The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism has announced the finalists for its 2015 Henry Awards, honoring Henri de Tonti, whom historians consider one of the first "Arkansas Travelers."
The department will name the winners at the Governor's Banquet, the concluding event of the 41st annual Arkansas Governor's Conference on Tourism, March 8-10 at the Arkansas Convention Center in Texarkana. Call (501) 682-1088 or (501) 682-5240.
The awards and finalists:
• Media Support: Gospel Station Network, Ada, Okla.; the Helena World, Helena-West Helena; Jay Lindly, radio station KDQN-FM, 92.1, De Queen
• Bootstrap Award: Buck Fever Festival, Banks; Helena Museum of Phillips County, Helena-West Helena; World War II Japanese Internment Museum, McGehee
• Arkansas Heritage: Heifer Ranch, Perryville; Johnny Cash Boyhood Home, Dyess; Old Independence Regional Museum, Batesville
• Grand Old Classic Special Event: Eureka Springs Corvette Weekend, Eureka Springs; Lights of the Ozarks, Fayetteville; Quapaw Quarter Association Spring Tour of Homes, Little Rock
• Outstanding Volunteer Service: Charles Snapp, Walnut Ridge; Fatima Treuer, Eureka Springs; Mulberry River Cleanup, Ozark
• Community Tourism Development: BPW Barn Sale, Camden; City of Conway; Hot Springs Baseball Trail
• Natural State: Bridges of Pulaski County/River Lights in the Rock, Little Rock; Fayetteville Ale Trail, Fayetteville; Slaughter Pen Mountain Bike Trail, Bentonville
• Tourism Special Achievement: Best Western Arkansas Cooperative, statewide; Hope Platform Committee, Hope; U.S. Marshals Commemorative Coin Program, Fort Smith
Theater auditions
• The Royal Players have rescheduled auditions for parts for adults, teens and children for Meredith Willson's The Music Man (postponed last month at the last minute citing the illness of director Mark Troillett) at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 4 at the Royal Theatre, 111 S. Market St., Benton, and 6:30 p.m. Jan. 5 in the choir room of First United Methodist Church, 200 N. Market St. Prepare a song from or in the style of the show and take sheet music for the accompanist, and come prepared to move ("no flip-flops, please!"). Production dates are March 6-8, 13-15 and 20-22. Music and choreography rehearsals will start in mid- January. Call (501) 315-5483 or visit the website, theroyalplayers.com.
• Walton Arts Center and production company Phoenix Entertainment will hold auditions, 4-8 p.m. Jan. 9 and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 10 in the center's Starr Theater and McBride Studio, 495 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville, to cast young male actor(s) for the role of Tom of Warwick for the eight Feb. 17-22 Fayetteville performances of the touring production of the Lerner and Loewe musical Camelot.
Auditioners must be male, in good physical shape, appear to be between the ages of 8 and 13 and less than 5 feet tall. Be prepared to read the Tom of Warwick/King Arthur scene (end of Act 2, copies available by emailing sbroome@waltonartscenter.org) and you should be able to memorize 10-15 lines, take stage direction and be able to attend rehearsals and wardrobe fittings.
Submit a completed registration form (available at waltonartscenter.org) with a 50-word biography and head shot. Call (479) 443-5600.
• The Arkansas Repertory Theatre will hold auditions by appointment for its production of August: Osage County by Tracy Letts on Jan. 18 at the theater, 601 Main St., Little Rock. Director Bob Hupp will be casting men and women over the age of 35 and one actress, mid-20s, to play an American Indian character.
A list of available roles (the roles of Beverly Weston and Jean Fordham have been cast) are available at the website, therep.org/work-with-us. Actors must provide a picture and resume; the audition will consist of reading a short portion from the play. Audition "sides" will be available online at therep.org/work-with-us/auditionsides.aspx one week prior to the audition.
Rehearsals begin May 12. Production dates are June 5-21. All roles paid. To schedule an appointment, email Company Manager/Casting Associate Peter Mensky at pmensky@therep.org; put "August Local Request" in the subject line.
Dance auditions
• Untapped, Arkansas' only professional tap dance company, will hold open company auditions at 6 p.m. Jan. 9 at Shuffles & Ballet II, Market & Merrill Shopping Center, 1521 Merrill Drive, Little Rock. Dancers must be age 18 or older (or be a senior in high school), of any style and background, "with a love for the art of tap and a desire to share it through teaching and performances." Rehearsal schedules are flexible and all performances are paid. Email untappedlittlerock@gmail.com.
• Memphis will be one of five stops on an audition road tour for Season 12 of the Fox TV show So You Think You Can Dance, with tryouts 8 a.m. March 8 at the Orpheum Theatre, 203 S. Main St. Register on site; details, pre-registration forms, eligibility information and a list of dates and details on the other four audition sites (New York, Dallas, Detroit and Los Angeles) will be available at the website, fox.com/dance.
Style on 12/28/2014