Alumni Spotlight: Michael Bartholmey

Janea Snyder — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 21:25:21 +0000

��Vlog��ý Little Rock graduate Michael Bartholmey (‘12) has been acting for years and recently took on a new role: directing his first musical. He directs “Oliver!,” based on Charles Dickens’ novel “Oliver Twist.” The show runs through Dec. 10 at the Royal Theater in Benton. Bartholmey, who has been part of the central Arkansas theater scene for many years, graduated in 2012 from ��Vlog��ý Little Rock with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts, which he credits with giving him a solid foundation. “I loved my time in the Theatre and Dance Department at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock,” he said. “The faculty opened my eyes to another dimension and gave me a whole new perspective on the art of theatre. Stacy Pendergraft (associate professor of actor training) helped me hone my acting skills. Without her directing class, I doubt I would have been ready to take on this project. And I definitely wouldn’t have made it through without the help of my adviser and professor Yslan Hicks. All of the classes were hands-on and engaging.” Bartholmey, a North Little Rock resident, got an early start in theater. As a teen, he performed at the . After college, he was cast in “Henry V” at . He has performed with in Benton in numerous shows, including “Our Town,” “Oklahoma,” “Legally Blonde,” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Earlier this year, he performed in “Titanic: The Musical” at in Little Rock. For the past five years, Bartholmey has worked with the Saline County Shakes, a company he co-founded as a way to bring classical productions to the public for free. He also directed summer productions of “Macbeth,” “The Taming of the Shrew,” “Hamlet,” and “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare” (abridged). In addition to acting and directing, Bartholmey is experienced in stage management, lights/sounds, set design and construction, and other facets of theater. “I’ve done just about everything. One of the things I loved about being in the theatre program at ��Vlog��ý Little Rock was that they provide you with training in almost every aspect of the craft,” he said. “Acting is my true passion, but I love being behind the scenes almost just as much.” Last year, Bartholmey was named to the ACANSA Arts Avant Garde class of 2016. “Oliver!” is a new challenge for Bartholmey. It’s not only his first musical to direct but also the largest cast and crew he has worked with on any production. “I’ve always loved the casting process. You start out with a certain vision of what you want each character to look like but then you have the audition and sometimes that completely changes,” he said. “That can be a good thing or a bad thing. It’s like a big puzzle that can really go anyway you want it. You start putting the pieces together and try to figure out the best solution to fit your vision.” “Oliver!” opened Nov. 30 to a full house, much to Bartholmey’s delight. “Just being able to see your ideas and vision come to life on stage is an incredible experience,” he said. “Being able to finally sit back and just enjoy it after all the hard work and late nights really makes it all worthwhile.” “Oliver!” will be performed again Dec. 7-9 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 10 at 2 p.m. For more information, visit

Three from ��Vlog��ýLR recognized as Avant-Garde honorees

Ajani Oyindamola — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:12:28 +0000

A University of Arkansas at Little Rock student and web designer and two alumni were recognized as exceptional young artists during the ACANSA Arts Festival. Ashi Franke, a web designer in the ��Vlog��ýLR Office of Communications and Marketing, Erin Anson-Ellis, general manager of Ballet Arkansas, and Michael Bartholmey, an artist and founding member of Saline County Shakes in Benton, were awarded the distinction of Avant-Garde Sept. 24 at the Rob Robinson Alley Way in Little Rock. The Avant-Garde title was awarded to 10 young artists who demonstrate exemplary leadership and commitment to impacting and furthering their own art or the arts as a collective in the community. This year celebrates the third year for the ACANSA Arts Festival, which inspires public appreciation for the arts while enriching the economic and cultural vitality in the region. For more information, visit the. More information about the award winners: Ashi Franke is a web designer focusing on user experience and interface design. Pursuing her bachelor’s degree in web design and development, Franke studies web standards and accessibility as well as modern usability interface trends. Through her involvement with ��Vlog��ýLR and communication with young Arkansas artists, she encourages designers to pursue careers in technology and translate their artistic passions into accessible, beautiful websites and applications. She has made her mark by completing freelance design work for entrepreneurs and promoting the digital arts to both students and faculty at the university. She has given lectures on user experience and interface design, advertising, and competitive graphic design to middle school, high school, and college students.

Erin Anson-Ellis

Erin Anson-Ellis is a native of Little Rock and general manager of Ballet Arkansas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from ��Vlog��ýLR and graduated with honors in May 2012. Ellis became Ballet Arkansas’ production, company, and stage manager in 2013. In addition to her work at Ballet Arkansas, her credits include stage managing Wildwood Park for the Arts 2012 fall tour of “Lily and the Appleseed,” Shuffles and Ballet II’s 2014 and 2015 dance recitals, and various ACANSA performances in 2014 and 2015.

Michael Bartholmey

Michael Bartholmey has been involved in central Arkansas theaters since age 10. In 2012, he earned a bachelor’s degree in theatre arts from ��Vlog��ýLR. He is a founding member of Saline County Shakes in Benton, a company dedicated to bringing classical productions to the public for free. Bartholmey recently directed and starred in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” this past summer. In the upper right photo, Ashi Franke, a ��Vlog��ýLR student and web designer, earned the distinction of Avant-Garde at the ACANSA Arts Festival. Photo by Lonnie Timmons III/��Vlog��ýLR Communications.

- University News Archive - ����Vlog��ý Little Rock

Alumni Spotlight: Michael Bartholmey

Three from ����Vlog��ýLR recognized as Avant-Garde honorees

- University News Archive - ��Vlog��ý Little Rock

Three from ��Vlog��ýLR recognized as Avant-Garde honorees