The excitement of the weekend is palpable, with a plethora of activities and events to choose from in the Little Rock area. From vintage aircraft to canine companions, there’s something for everyone.
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Flying High
The North Little Rock chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association is hosting the 1929 Ford Tri-Motor, one of the earliest luxury air travel planes, at the North Little Rock Municipal Airport, 8200 Remount Road, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday through Sunday. Admission is free; visitors can book rides on the “Tin Goose,” as it was affectionately called, for $85-$105. (800) 359-6217; flytheford.com. For those interested in aviation history, this is a unique opportunity to experience the thrill of vintage air travel.
- Book your ride in advance to ensure availability.
- Get ready for a unique and unforgettable experience.
Paws and Effect
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock is reviving its Puppy Mugs fundraiser, dormant since 2019, for the students in the UA Little Rock School of Art and Design. Pet owners can have professional portraits taken of their dogs, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday on the second floor of the Windgate Center of Art and Design at UALR, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock. Pet owners can even choose from one of four fun ‘crimes’ to add extra character. It’s a fundraiser for the purchase of digital cameras for students. The photo sessions are free; there’s a cost for pet owners to buy 5-by-7s, 8-by-10s or digital file. Email jklivaudais@ualr.edu.
- Pet owners can choose from four fun ‘crimes’ to add extra character to their dog’s photo.
- The photo sessions are free, but there is a cost for purchasing prints.
Music to Our Ears
Grammy-nominated Memphis-based roots, blues and soul band Southern Avenue performs, 6-9 p.m. Saturday as part of Argenta Vibes at Argenta Plaza, 510 Main St., North Little Rock. They’re touring to promote their Alligator Records debut, “Family.” “Family” is a soulful blend of blues and soul that showcases the band’s raw talent and emotional depth.
Troy Roberts
Grammy-nominated jazz saxophonist Troy Roberts, in residence at the University of Central Arkansas, will give a concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Concert Hall of UCA’s Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 2150 Bruce St. at Donaghey Avenue, Conway. Admission is free with the donation of nonperishable food items for the UCA Food Pantry. “Jazz is a universal language that brings people together and transcends boundaries.”
Theater
The Downtown Playmakers Project, in partnership with Little Rock’s Martin Luther King Elementary School, stages “From Showers to Flowers: The Springtime Plays,” original short plays put together by third graders at MLK Elementary school in collaboration with adult professional writers and actors, at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main St., Little Rock. Admission is free, but it’s a good idea to reserve seats — (501) 378-0405; TheRep.org.
- The plays are written by third graders and feature adult professional actors.
- The event is free, but reservations are recommended.
More Theater
The Rep is also hosting “Skylarking,” part of the Unlimited Stages/Barrier Free Theatre project, an original one-act play with music, intended to make theater accessible to individuals of all abilities, including those with developmental or physical challenges, 6 p.m. Tuesday. It’s the inaugural program in a partnership with Easterseals Arkansas Adult Training & Wellness program.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock
Theater students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock perform a student-devised work, 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday in Haislip Theatre, Center for Performing Arts, UA Little Rock, 2801 S. University Ave.. Mentoring the students is Jimmy Maize, a member of the Tectonic Theatre Company, which has been in residence at UA Little Rock for the semester. (501) 916-3291; email cdcolbert@ualr.edu.
Actors Theatre of Little Rock
Actors Theatre of Little Rock continues its run of “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf,” 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday through April 26 at Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, 1601 Louisiana St., Little Rock. actorstheatrelr.org/tickets.
The University of Central Arkansas Theatre Department
The University of Central Arkansas Theatre Department is staging “Eurydice” by Sarah Ruhl, a modern, poetic retelling of the classic Greek myth, 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday April 18-19 and 2 p.m. Sunday April 20 in the James M. Bridges Black Box Theatre in UCA’s Windgate Center for the Fine and Performing Arts. (501) 450-3265 or (866) 810-0012; web.ovationtix.com/trs/dept/2176.
Argenta Arts District
Argenta Contemporary Theater, 405 Main St., North Little Rock, closes out its run of the musical “Gypsy” 7 p.m. today through Saturday. argentacontemporarytheatre.org.
Murry’s Dinner Playhouse
And “Church Basement Ladies” continues onstage through Saturday April 19 at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, 6323 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 12:45 and 6:45 p.m. Sunday. Buffet opens 90 minutes before curtain. (501) 562-3131; murrysdp.com. Opening April 23, more adies: “Leading Ladies,” by Ken Ludwig. A pair of down-at-heel actors latch onto a scam involving an elderly woman’s will that leaves her fortune to two long-lost British nephews.
Art and Exhibits
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock, opens on Saturday an exhibit of studio photographs by the late Kwame Brathwaite, who started out in the 1960s using photography to promote “Black is Beautiful.” The exhibition, up through Oct. 12, highlights the artist’s independent studio work in the 1970s, including a portrait of singer Nina Simone and capturing singer Marvin Gaye mid-performance. The museum is offering an exhibition tour at 10:30 a.m. April 26.
| Exhibition | Location | Dates | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts: Kwame Brathwaite | 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock | Through October 12 | 10:30 a.m. April 26 for tour |
| Annika Wade: Stitches | Arkansas Regional Innovation Hub, 204 E. Fourth St., North Little Rock | Through April 25 | 5-8 p.m. Friday for reception |
| Arkansas League of Artists Member Show | Argenta Library Gallery, 420 Main St., North Little Rock | Through May 9 | 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday |
Other Events
The 55th Juried Exhibition by the Mid-Southern Watercolorists remains on display, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday-Saturday through May 2 at the William F. Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock. (501) 758-1720; NLRlibrary.org.
Windgate Center of Art + Design
The 55th Juried Exhibition by the Mid-Southern Watercolorists remains on display, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Upcoming Events
At UA Little Rock’s Windgate Center of Art + Design, there’s a 5 p.m. reception on Friday April 17 for two current exhibitions: Dawn Holder: Strange Meetings, mixed-media ceramics by Holder, a sculptor and installation artist, is on display through July 11 in the North and South Galleries. “Strange Meetings” is a thought-provoking exhibition that explores the relationship between art and reality.
UA Little Rock’s Windgate Center of Art + Design
And Beverly Buys: Gone But Not, 11 cyanotypes by Hot Springs photographer Beverly Buys, is on display through May 30 in the Focus Gallery. “Gone But Not” is a poignant exhibition that captures the beauty of the natural world.
Other Art Events
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Windgate Center of Art + Design, 2801 S. University Ave., is hosting a 5 p.m. reception on Friday April 17 for two current exhibitions: William Beckman: On the Horizon, oil paintings by Beckman, is up through June 30 in Gallery One in the Fine Arts Building. “On the Horizon” is a stunning exhibition that showcases Beckman’s skill with oil paint.
The 55th Juried Exhibition by the Mid-Southern Watercolorists remains on display, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the weekend offers a diverse range of activities and events, from vintage aircraft to canine companions, music, theater, and art exhibits. Whether you’re interested in history, culture, or simply having fun, there’s something for everyone in the Little Rock area. So come out and enjoy the fun!