Elsewhere in entertainment and the arts:
Searcy farce
A “scandalous” American actress becomes a “farce” to be reckoned with as four guys dressed as clergymen (including an escaped prisoner) turn a British vicarage into a madhouse in See How They Run by Philip King, which the Performing Arts Center on the Square, 219 W. Arch St., Searcy, will stage in a dinner-theater setting, 7:30 p.m. today-Saturday, March 27-29 and April 4-5 and 1:30 p.m. April 6.
Tickets (plus sales tax) are $29, $24 for students and senior citizens; $27 and $21 for the April 6 matinee; $18 for opening night and March 27 “dessert theater” performances. Call (501) 368-0111 or visit centeronthesquare.org.
Chili fundraiser
North Little Rock’s Amboy Neighborhood Association has teamed with the Chili Appreciation Society International for an annual fundraiser Saturday at the Church at Burns Park, 295 Military Drive, North Little Rock.
Chili teams of Amboy, Belwood and other North Little Rock residents and CASI members will begin cooking early that morning, with competition in two categories: CASI On-spot cooking and Throw-Down (homemade chili for “people’s choice” award). Entry fee is $20 for both, payable at the event. Sign up at Amboychili@aol.com and receive rules and details.
Showmanship judging begins at 11:30 a.m.; a panel of local celebrities and politicians starts competition judging at 1 p.m. Chili kits ($3 for a cup, spoon and people’s-choice voting ticket) go on sale at noon. A Bouncy House for the kids will arrive by 11:30 a.m. For nonchili fans, hot dogs, chips, beverages and cookies will available for sale. An afternoon silent auction will feature items donated by area businesses.
Benefit canceled
Citing a lack of ticket sales, the University of Central Arkansas College of Fine Arts and Communication has canceled Friday’s Bravo! fundraiser portion of a three-day residency by composer/pianist Bruce Adolphe at the university, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway. Adolphe, creator and performer of the “Piano Puzzler” on public radio’s Performance Today, will attend a UCA faculty recital of his works at 7:30 p.m. today in the Recital Hall of the university’s Snow Fine Arts Center (admission is free) and will likely play for a private dinner Friday evening at the home of Brad and Suzanne Banister. Call (501) 450-3293.
Scary movies
The third annual Little Rock Horror Picture Show kicks off with a screening of All Cheerleaders Die, about a rebel girl who recruits cheerleaders to help her take down the captain of their high school football team but end up in a different supernatural battle, at 7 p.m. today at Ron Robinson Theater, in the Arcade Building, President Clinton and River Market avenues. Members of the cast will be present.
An opening night party, featuring musicians Bonnie Montgomery and Nathan Howdeshell, will follow at nearby W.T. Bubba’s, downstairs at 500 President Clinton Ave.
Admission is by festival pass, $50 (Friday-Sunday day passes are $20), plus handling fees. Donate three or more nonperishable food items for the Arkansas Foodbank to “Take a Bite out of Hunger” and get $5 off a full pass, $3 off the price of a day pass. Visit tinyurl.com/opue6ts.
Friday’s lineup includes horror and sci-fi films from the 2013 Little Rock 48 Hour Film Project and the first block of short features from around the world. Saturday will include more short and full-length features; panel discussions on acting, writing, directing and special effects makeup; and at 10:30 p.m. a performance by Sound of the Mountain of the original score to the silent film Metropolis (tickets are $7). Sunday’s lineup will conclude with a 9 p.m. awards ceremony and after party.
A complete schedule is available at the Facebook page, facebook.com/LittleRockHorrorPictureShow. Call (501) 205-0400.
Weekend, Pages 37 on 03/20/2014