This year鈥檚 Fringe Festival, established in 2008 to connect professionals and students through mentorship, will be hosted in Haislip Theatre on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus on April 17 and 18. Each showing will be at 7:30 p.m., and admission is free.

An award-winning playwright, educator, and recipient of the Kesselring Prize for Playwriting, Candrice Jones continues her residency that began in 2023 through the Fringe Festival.

鈥淓ach year, we are able to tailor a Fringe Festival that fosters original student work in a way that meets the educational journey and process of the year,鈥� said Stacy Pendergraft, co-director of the School of Literary and Performing Arts. 鈥淟ast year, Candrice mentored new work, and we knew then that having her connect more deeply with students through a semester’s long course would be an invaluable experience.鈥�

This year鈥檚 festival delves into the writing process. Students will first hear their work read by actors, then the students will have the opportunity to revise their pieces. The final readings will be presented before a theater audience on April 17 and 18. Additionally, both nights will feature original monologues and spoken word selections created by students from across the school, as well as from students who were in the First Year Experience course in the fall of 2023.

The Fringe Festival of New Student Work is made possible through the Kerry Kennedy Aspiring Playwright Endowed Fund. 鈥淸The fund] continues to enhance our commitment to original voices and has had an incredible impact on the department from its beginning in 2006,鈥� Pendergraft said.

For more information, contact the School of Literary and Performing Arts at 501-916-3291 or slpa@ualr.edu.

The post Fringe Festival of New Student Work Highlights Writing Process appeared first on News.

Dr. Lawrence Smith, production director, calls the play 鈥渁 hysterical tragicomedy of American life in which a work-from-home mom and her live-at-home transgender son upend the status quo of the nuclear family.鈥�

Known for its multi-dimensional cast of characters and dark comedy, HIR (pronounced here) is a story focused on family, identity, mental health, and more. When Isaac comes home after being honorably discharged from the military, everything he once expected from home looks entirely different.

Students, staff, faculty, and alumni have been preparing for these performances. From costumes to scenes, a multitude of staff and faculty assisted with designing, including Don Bolinger, Gideon Brewer, Karen Dauenhauer, and Mike Stacks. Additionally, Emily Wold, a 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock alumna from the theatre arts program, visited campus as the guest stage combat choreographer for the production. Amongst other involvement, Don Bolinger, costume shop manager, and Stacy Pendergraft, co-director of the school, will star in the shows.

The School of Literary and Performing Arts will host post-show conversations to discuss the multitude of issues the performance highlights.

鈥淲e have invited a number of faculty, staff, and community members with expertise on these subjects to attend the show and be guest participants at these discussions to help get the conversation going and share their insights and experiences,鈥� Smith said.

Tickets to HIR are free but limited. You can reserve your seats . For more information, contact the School of Literary and Performing Arts at slpa@ualr.edu.

The post The School of Literary and Performing Arts Presents Spring Theatre Production, HIR by Taylor Mac appeared first on News.

The production, co-directed by Dr. Larry Smith and Kate Sain, features a concert staging of short opera works and beloved musical theatre scenes, each dealing with the idea of fortune in the game of life.

Performances are scheduled for Nov. 14-16 at 7:30 p.m in the University Theatre, which is located in the Center for Performing Arts (CPA) building on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus.

Co-produced by both the music and theatre arts programs, these performances bring together a variety of disciplines from the School of Literary and Performing Arts. They also highlight the work of new faculty and staff at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, as they feature scenic design work by assistant professor of theatre Karen Dauenhauer and technical director Robert Warner. The show includes musical direction by Dr. Nickolas Doshier, assistant professor of music, who conducts a 15-piece orchestra composed of Arkansas Symphony Orchestra musicians, community members, faculty, and students to accompany the vocal performances.

鈥淲hen Dr. Lorissa Mason approached Kris McAbee and me about linking production to a joint music and theatre-led opera class, we believed it was the right time to pilot this kind of integrated student opportunity,鈥� said Stacy Pendergraft, co-director of the School of Literary and Performing Arts. 鈥淒r. Nickolas Doshier鈥檚 incredible assemblage of the orchestra was an unexpected, delightful strengthening of the offering. In all of my 22 years experience here at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock, there has not been this kind of substantial instrumental support of live opera and musical theatre performance. It鈥檚 an ambitious, wonderful team effort across the board.鈥�

鈥淭hese innovations come only one year into the existence of the School of Literary and Performing Arts,鈥� said Dr. Sarah Beth Estes, Dean of the College of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences, and Education. 鈥淭his remarkable achievement reflects the commitment of the faculty of the school to innovate opportunities for students and the care of the school directors in facilitating such opportunities.鈥�

The event is free, and no reservations are required. For more information, contact the School of Literary and Performing Arts at 501-916-3291 or email slpa@ualr.edu.

The post 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Performs 鈥淕ames of Chance: A Casino Night of Opera and Musical Theatre鈥� appeared first on News.