Highlights- June 21-28
Slumber in Eureka
Would you like to sleep with everyone in Eureka Springs? Well, maybe not everyone, but it you’re game, head over this weekend for what’s being pegged as the world’s biggest slumber party. It’s the big kick-off for Eureka Springs’ Lucky 13 Starlight Outdoor Cinema, which is always a good time—although the slumber party element is only this weekend. The outdoor walk-up takes place every Sunday night until Sept. 16. Family friendly movies are shown on the side of the building that houses Mud Street Café at One Main St. in downtown Eureka. There’s a different theme each Sunday night, with related games and prizes and there’s always live music by a NWA band before the films. You do have to bring seating. Lawn chairs, chaise lounge, bed—you’ll see them all. There is a $3 donation requested. Gates open at 7. Films start about dusk, right after the games and music. There is usually only one feature film—find the entire schedule at www.lucky13cinema.org—but on this opening weekend, there will be a triple feature with How to Eat Fried Worms, Monster House and School of Rock. There will be sleeping and no sleeping sections, with a wake up call at 7 a.m. from Miss Charlotte. There will be 100 smores for the campers, Lany the Music lady will be performing and five posters of Johnny Depp will be given to whomever can make out the longest with the posters, so there will be more to watch than just the films. Those who conspire to create the best slumber party urban campsite will win a $150 shopping spree.
But don’t just go for the slumber party, go early. The Eureka Sunday Market is in full swing in the same location with booths full of fresh produce, artisan crafts, jewelry, food and a wide variety of other unique products from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Group show at Frameworks 645
There’s a space on Dickson Street that is easy to pass by unless you’re on the lookout for it. Frameworks 645 is located upstairs above Sidney’s in the old U-Ark Theater and for the next four months you can view the summer invitational art show that features work by a number of local artists. There will be a reception for the artists, Elizabeth Nevin, Patti Besser, Jori Costello, Dawn Graham, Path Walker, Diana Rivers Cedar Kindy and Nanci Ballew, from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturday. The show runs through September.
Banks exhibit at Heartwood Gallery
The local artists collective, Heartwood Gallery in south Fayetteville at 428 Government St. a half block north of Sixth Street, has organized a fine exhibit that you don’t want to miss. Works by Charles Banks Wilson will hang alongside the work of the Heartwood artists throughout June. Wilson was named an Oklahoma Treasure in 2001 by the Governor of Oklahoma and last year received a Lifetime Achievement award from the Arkansas Arts Council. Banks, a protégé and friend of Thomas Hart Benton, studied at the Art Institute of Chicago in the 1930’s and after that moved to New York at Benton’s suggestion. Banks came back to the Midwest and established the art department a Northeastern A&M College in Oklahoma. He may be best known for his many drawings, paintings and lithographs of Native Americans and his murals in the Oklahoma State Capitol. Banks was born in Arkansas, but he grew up and spent many years in Oklahoma before recently coming back to Arkansas. Banks is indeed an Arkansas treasure.
CATS
CATS…have you seen it? If not duck inside and away from the hot, humid weather for one of five performances by the national touring company this weekend at the Walton Arts Center.
Based on T.S. Eliot’s book, Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, CATS won seven 1983 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Lighting and Best Costumes. The show opened in 1982 and became the longest running musical of Broadway in 1997. It ended its 18-year run on Broadway in 2000.
The WAC has organized two special events in conjunction with the company’s visit to NWA. Immediately following the opening performance on Friday night, there will be a celebration of the WAC’s 15th anniversary and CATS 25th anniversary. Audience members will be able to meet and mingle with the CATS cast and crew.
The Sunday night performance will be “Family Night.” Ticket holders can come at 6 p.m., prior to the 7 p.m. show and have their faces painted by CATS cast members.
Performances are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 7 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $44 – $52.
