WAC continues season with diverse offerings
A new year marks a fresh start — new and exciting possibilities. That could also describe the spring semester of the Walton Arts Center 2017-18 season. With more than 30 shows between now and the end of May — not to mention Artosphere’s jam-packed schedule coming in June — the WAC in Fayetteville strives to leave no entertainment palette unsatisfied with internationally lauded musicians, Broadway productions, comedic offerings, family programming and more. But this shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s lived in Northwest Arkansas for more than a few days. What may come as a surprise is the sheer volume of performances and events you find yourself or someone else in the family dying to go see.
Below is the WAC’s schedule for the rest of the season, with recent additions highlighted at the bottom so you’re sure not to miss a thing!
Broadway Series
Tickets start at $36
“Cabaret”
Jan. 19-21
“An American in Paris”
Courtesy Photo
“An American in Paris” comes to the Walton Arts Center Feb. 6-11.
Feb. 6-11
“Rent”
March 2-4
“Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”
April 24-29
“The Sound of Music”
May 15-20
American Music Series
Tickets start at $30
May 10 — Charlie Daniels Band
West Street Live
In its second year, the West Street Live series transforms Starr Theatre into an intimate club atmosphere with cabaret tables and small acts — solo, duo and trio performances — as an addition to the downtown live music scene.
Tickets start at $30
Jan. 26 — An Evening with Spencer Bohren
Feb. 3 — John McEuen & Friends: Will The Circle Be Unbroken
March 1 — Raul Midón
March 31 — An Evening with Peter Yarrow
10X10 Arts Series
The series includes a pre-show “Creative Conversation” with the artists, as well as a post-show party. New this year is the 10×10 Ambassador Membership. In addition to the usual benefits of purchasing a membership — the same seats for every show, special events, a tax-deductible portion of the ticket price — 10×10 members will have “ambassador” tickets for several shows, enabling them (as an arts ambassador) to bring a guest to the performance.
Tickets are $10
Jan. 17 — Béla Fleck and Brooklyn Rider
Feb. 1 — The Triplets of Belleville Cine-Concert
Feb. 24 — Pasadena Roof Orchestra
March 8 — Aquila Theatre Company’s “Sense and Sensibility”
March 9 — Dublin Guitar Quartet
May 24 — Ravé Mehta’s “FLOW”
June 19 — Artosphere Festival Orchestra 10×10 Concert
Starrlight Jazz Club Series
As old as the WAC itself, the Starrlight Jazz Club Series highlights names well known in the jazz world as well as rising stars, with performances that range from meeting expectations of traditional jazz to throwing expectations out the window.
Tickets start at $30
Feb. 10 — Donny McCaslin
March 2 — Alicia Olatuja
April 28 — Conrad Herwig
LOL @ WAC
Tickets start at $25
Feb. 8-9 — “My Funny Valentine”
Coca-Cola Night Out Series
Tickets start at $10
Jan. 29 — “At This Performance…”
Feb. 2 — Classic Albums Live: “Rumours”
Feb. 27 — Mummenschanz “you & me”
March 9-10 — “PostSecret: The Show”
April 6 — VoicePlay
Kimberly-Clark Family Fun Series
The Kimberly-Clark Family Fun Series and Mattel Kids Series provide families a diverse selection of entertainment based on the age of their little ones.
Tickets start at $9
May 5 — Slingsby Theater Company’s “The Young King”
May 11 — Ailie Cohen and Unicorn Theatre’s “The Secret Life of Suitcases”
Mattel Kids Series
Tickets start at $9
Feb. 25 — Theatre Company Cahoots NI presents “Shh! We Have a Plan”
March 27 — Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards
April 13-14 & 20-21 — Trike Theatre presents “Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse”
Non-series Offerings
March 30 — An Evening with Jason Mraz
April 7 — VoiceJam Competition
April 14 — wellRED Comedy Tour
April 17 — I’m With Her
June 23 — Artosphere Festival Orchestra Finale Concert
Recent additions:
Jan. 26 — An Evening with Spencer Bohren
Spencer Bohren has a marvelous gift for sharing his great love for America’s wealth of traditional folk, blues, gospel and country music with audiences of all ages. His ability to animate the musicians and singers from the past with both respectful readings of their music and spellbinding stories is legendary.
March 27 — Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards
Jazzy Ash’s songs celebrate the magic of movement New Orleans-style, incorporating gypsy jazz, zydeco, swing, blues and Dixieland. Her performances encourage kids and their grown-ups to celebrate the music of New Orleans as part of the American folk music heritage.
March 30 — An Evening with Jason Mraz
Since getting his start in coffeehouses in San Diego and following the release of his breakthrough hit “The Remedy,” Mraz has brought his positive message and soulful, folk-pop sound to rapt audiences around the world through his vibrant recordings, humorous live performances, and philanthropic efforts. Along the way, he has earned numerous platinum certifications for his various releases, and made pop history with his record-breaking classic singles, “I’m Yours” and “I Won’t Give Up.”
