THEATER
‘Dance Nation’
The absurdity and seriousness of preteen competitive dance is on display as Actors Theatre of Little Rock stages “Dance Nation” by Clare Barron, a finalist for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and Nov. 6-9 and 6 p.m. Nov. 3 at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, 1601 Louisiana St., Little Rock. Pre-show starts 25 minutes before curtain time. The theater rates the show R and recommends that although it’s about the puberty years, “leave the kids at home.” Tickets are $25, $20 for students, senior citizens and military. Visit actorstheatrelr.org/tickets.
MUSIC
Choral competitors
Central Arkansas’ Top of the Rock Chorus is headed to Kansas City, Mo., this week for the Sweet Adelines’ 76th annual International Convention and Competition, with preliminary rounds starting Tuesday, the semifinals Thursday and the finals Saturday in the Municipal Arena at the Kansas City Convention Center.
The chorus, a five-time regional champ, sings a cappella music in barbershop style under the direction of Kelly Causey in Sweet Adelines’ Region 25, comprising choruses in North Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas. Its more than 50 singers of all ages come from the greater Little Rock area, Conway, Hot Springs and Memphis.
The chorus will perform at the City of Sherwood Winter Fest and tree lighting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at Sherwood City Hall Park, 2199 E. Kiehl Ave., Sherwood.
ETC.
‘Arts Across Arkansas’
Dec. 20 is the deadline for Arkansas teachers to nominate students for Arts Across Arkansas, a program that “encourages, enhances, and expands students’ original thoughts, processes, personal experiences and artistic abilities,” according to a news release.
Multiple students from any one school may enter the preliminary round in music composition, dance choreography, literary arts, visual arts, photography and film. Any students can submit for more than one medium.
Members of the Arkansas Arts Council’s Arts in Education Roster will narrow the selection to 5-10 finalists per medium and spend time virtually, or in person, with each to mentor and guide them as they go through their creative process. Students can change, edit or redo their work before submitting the final product for the state finals, which will take place in the spring. Top winners will receive cash prizes.
Students who placed first last year are not eligible to participate this year. Information and a nomination form are available at tinyurl.com/y4uv6zx2.
AUDITIONS
‘Miracle’ variety show
Pine Bluff’s ARTx3 Campus will hold auditions for singers, dancers, jugglers, storytellers and others for “Miracle on Main,” a Christmas-theme variety show, 7-9 p.m. Nov. 5 and 7 in the Adam B. Robinson Jr. Black Box Theater, 627 S. Main St., Pine Bluff. The show will also have a reader’s theater component (“Olive the Other Reindeer”) and a choral-led telling of “Christmas Wish.” Production dates are Dec. 20-21. Behind-the-scenes volunteers are also needed to work on the set, lights and sound. Register at artx3.org/auditions.
