LITTLE ROCK — 1 SONGS
Don’t even think of Madonna if you go see Evita, which has its official opening at 8 p.m. Friday at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre, Sixth and Main streets, Little Rock. The show also has a preview performance at 7 p.m. today, as well as a pre-show discussion at 6:15 p.m. with Evita director Cliff Baker and The Rep’s Producing Artistic Director Bob Hupp. Don’t look for the orchestra, either, which is hidden away upstairs. Tickets range from $25 to $60, with discounts available today only. Call (501) 378-0405 or see the website www.therep.org for more information, such as what nights will feature tango dancers doing the national dance of Argentina, setting for the action in Evita. See story Page 8E
2 SPIRIT
The Arkansas Razorback Marching Band, University of Arkansas’ cheerleaders, pom squad and mascot, Tusk III, will all take part in the RazorRock Rally 7 p.m. Friday at the Riverfest Amphitheatre, behind the River Market on President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock. The rally leads up to the UA vs. Louisiana-Monroe game at 6 p.m. Saturday at Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium. Admission is free. Call (501) 374-2001 or visit RazorRockRally.com.
3 SOPRANOS
Past competitors in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions will share music and stories at a special concert, Onstage and Backstage at the Metropolitan Opera Competition, 3 p.m. Sunday at Wildwood Park for the Arts, 20919 Denny Road. Planned participants are Arkansas district winners Nisheeda Golden, Mandi Harper and Andrea Ramos and national Met winners Christine Donahue Mayo and Diane Kesling. Tickets are $25, $15 for students. Call (501) 821-7275.
4 SOUNDS
Pinnacle Mountain State Park, on Arkansas 300 west of Little Rock, will host its annual Pinnacle of Music Festival 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Saturday in the park’s picnic area.
Blues-rock group the Needle Street Band goes on at 11, followed by bluesman Michael “Ironman” Burks at noon; blues-jazzman Gerald Johnson at 4 p.m. and Little Rock jazz-hip hop-bebop trumpeter Rodney Block at 6. Admission is $10; parking is free. Chairs, blankets and coolers welcome, but not glass bottles. Call (501) 868-5806.
5 SCENES
A black Florida family moves to Brooklyn at the beginning of the civil rights movement in Crumbs - From the Table of Joy by Lynn Nottage, opening at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Weekend Theater, West Seventh and Chester streets, Little Rock. Performances are at 7:30 p.m.Fridays and Saturdays through Sept. 25. Tickets are $14, $10 for students and senior citizens age 65 and up.
Call (501) 374-3761 or visit week endtheater.org.
6 SOLDIERS
A lesser-known piece of Arkansas history comes to life at the Battle of Reed’s Bridge Reenactment. The battle took place on Aug. 27, 1863, as Union troops advanced toward Little Rock. Visitors are invited to explore the soldiers’ camps and the restored battlefield, which will be open 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Soldiers will converge on the field for battle at 2 p.m. each day.
Military drills and musket training will be at 10 a.m. Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. A Civil War-era wedding at 4:30 and a dance at 7 will round out Saturday’s events. The site is at Arkansas 161 and South First Street in Jacksonville. Admission is free. Call (501) 241-1943 or (501) 819-0485.
7 SIXTIES
Beatles tribute band 1964 - Mark Benson as John Lennon,Gary Grimes as Paul McCartney, Tom Work as George Harrison and Terry Manfredi as Ringo Starr - brings its 1964 - The Tribute show to Conway this week, opening the University of Central Arkansas’ 2010-11 Public Appearances season at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Donald W. Reynolds Performance Hall at UCA, 201 Donaghey Ave. Tickets are $30-$40, $27-$37 for senior citizens, $10 for students (UCA alumni, faculty and staff get discounts and UCA students get in free with a current student ID). Call (501) 450-3265 or (866) 810-0012 or visit uca.edu/tickets.
8 STREET
More than 1,000 hot rods, street machines and street trucks will zoom into the downtown Little Rock riverfront area for the Street Machine Nationals, Friday-Sunday.
Festival hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Sunday. Admission is free for spectators.
Vehicle registration is $50. Call (317) 236-6515 or visit streetmachinenationals.net.
9 SOAR
Colorful, hovering balloons will dot the skies around Harrison’s junior high school soccer complex on Crooked Creek during the Arkansas Hot Air Balloon Festival. It all starts with a balloon glow and tethered rides, 7 p.m. Friday. The festival continues with balloon races like ring grabs at 7:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and a “hare and hound” race at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission to the festival is free for spectators, but tethered rides are $5. Call (870) 741-2659 or visit arkansasballoonfest.com.
10 SPOON
Get nostalgic this weekend at a concert by the Lovin’ Spoonful at 8 p.m.
Friday at the Eureka Springs Auditorium, 36 S. Main St., Eureka Springs. Tickets are $25. Call (888) 855-7823.
Also in Eureka Speings, the 40th annual Eureka Springs Antique Automobile Festival on Friday and Saturday, with an 11 a.m.
Saturday vehicle parade through downtown and along area roads.
Cars will be on display downtown and at Pine Mountain Village Shopping Center, 2075 E. Van Buren St., (U.S. 62 East) through the weekend.
Weekend, Pages 31 on 09/09/2010