Highlights- Johnny Winter, Ginny Masullo, High School Musical, Gin Blossums and more

Summer concerts: Gulley Park and Jazz
Although we’re still in for some hot weather, the days of summer are waning and some of Fayetteville’s summer concert series will close their season in the next few weeks. The Fayetteville Parks and Recreation Department’s free Gulley Park concert series wraps up on August 9 with blues band Oreo Blue. The show starts at 7 p.m. Take your lawn seating and enjoy a fun time in one of the town’s many parks.

On August 10, the North Arkansas Jazz Society will top off its summer concert series with the popular Composer’s Showcase. This concert has become an annual favorite. Local jazz musicians and ensembles will present their own jazz compositions and arrangements in a high-energy concert. It’s not unusual to hear premiere performances by area composers. This season will feature Rick Salonen, C.J. Weatherford, Ben Harris, Al Gibson, Claudia Burson, Jim Greeson and more to be announced. The show will take place at the University of Arkansas Fine Arts Concert Hall.  Tickets are available online at www.digjazz.com and at the door prior to each concert and are $12 general admission and $5 for students.
Broadsides and art
Ginny Masullo, the featured artist at Arsaga’s on Gregg during August, will read from her poetry surrounded by her collage-paintings at 5 p.m. Sunday at Arsaga’s on Gregg.
“The visual art began as more of a private endeavor that is finding its way into the public,” Masullo said. Like poetry, some things need to be shared to feel finished.”
Inspiring Masullo to combine her poet and art, or as she puts it, “intertwingle” it, was a quote from philosopher Ted Nelson, who explained that everything is intertwingled, although people keep pretending they can make things hierarchical, categorizable and sequential when they can’t.
“We are flooded with images daily,” Masullo said. “Collage is a way to create from this barrage rather than feeling overwhelmed by it.”
Poetry broadsides will be available for purchase as well as the art. Proceeds from art sales will go to Washington Regional Hospice.
George’s adds sizzle to summer
George’s Majestic Lounge will add sizzle to these hot dog days of summer this week by bringing in two big show. Legendary blues guitarist Johnny Winter will hit the stage at the Dickson Street club on Friday night. The Texas native signed his first record deal in 1969 with Columbia and since has released more than 35 albums on various labels, including his latest release, I’m a Bluesman on Virgin. Tickets are $20. Warming up for Winter will be Oreo Blue, who will be holding a CD release party for their latest.
On Tuesday night, the reunited Gin Blossoms will make George’s the only Arkansas stop on their coast-to-coast tour. The Arizona pop rock group spilt up in 1997 and reunited in 2002. They released their first album in 10 years, Major Lodge Victory, last year. The GB’s songs have been used on a number of film soundtracks including Speed and How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days. Tickets are $20.

High School Musical
The Fayetteville-based children’s theater company, Arts Live Theatre, is rolling out Disney’s High School Musical Friday with performances at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Fayetteville High School Auditorium. The performance is a production of Arts Live’s Musical Theatre Conservatory Summer Camp.
The theme of the play is: be whatever you want to be. It premiered as a TV movie last year and the soundtrack became the biggest selling album of the year. The show charts the struggles of two teenagers—the basketball hero Troy and the eggheaded new girl Gabriella. Both want parts in the spring play, Romeo and Juliet. Peer pressure from their respective cliques, the Brainiacs and the Jocks, keeps them from auditioning. A hypercompetitive drama club queen, Sharpay, also works hard to discourage them.
Mark Landon Smith, Artistic Director for Arts Live Theatre who, along with Missy Gipson and Jules Taylor will be directing the production, applied for the rights immediately when they became available last summer.
“Since then every time I mention to kids we’re doing High School Musical they scream!” Smith said. “This show has such an impact on kids. It’s bright, catchy and has a storyline kids can relate to. It’s become a national phenomena.”
Tickets are $8 to $12 and are available by calling 236-6849 or at www.artslivetheatre.com.