1 STRINGS
Traditional old-time and contemporary style fiddlers will flock this weekend to the annual Arkansas State Fiddle Championship, competing for nearly $5,000 in total cash prizes through Saturday at Ozark Folk Center State Park, 1032 Park Ave., Mountain View. Old-time Ozark-style fiddlers will compete from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, with a 7 p.m. concert featuring Billy Mathews, Violet Hensley and Betse Ellis, plus divisional winners and judges. Contemporary stylists will compete at 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, followed at 7 p.m. by a concert featuring Roger Fountain, Caleb Cobb and Brandon Apple, plus divisional winners and judges. Awards, prizes and any playoffs will take place at the end of each round. Admission to the daytime contests is free with park admission ($12, $7 for children), to the evening concerts, $12; day-night combination tickets are $19.50. A complete schedule and registration information is available online at OzarkFolkCenter.com; call (870) 269-3851.
2 SIGHTS
Teams of clowns, acrobats and daredevils work together to create Built to Amaze, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus show at North Little Rock's Verizon Arena. Performances begin at 7 p.m. today-Saturday, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. An all-access pre-show starts an hour before showtime. Tickets are $21-$51 plus fees. Call (800) 745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com.
3 STEPS
Up-and-coming choreographers show off their art at Ballet Arkansas' second Visions Choreographic Competition, 7 p.m. Saturday at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's Center for Performing Arts, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock. Audience members and dance professionals will select the winner from the five performances. Tickets are $40, $30 for students. A meet the artist party will be held at 6:30-8:30 p.m. today at Good Food by Ferneau, 521 Main St., North Little Rock. Tickets are $40. Call (501) 223-5150 or visit balletarkansas.org. See story on Page 4E.
4 SAMPLES
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation -- Arkansas Chapter will hold its "Taste of the Finest" fundraiser, 6-9:30 p.m. today at the Metroplex, 10800 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock. All Aboard, BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse, Crowne Plaza's Cafe 201, Ciao Baci, Copeland's, Cotham's (in Scott), Flying Saucer, Loblolly Creamery, RSVP Catering, Santo Coyote, Southern Gourmasian and Star of India will provide comestibles; craft breweries Lost Forty and Stone's Throw will provide beer. The event will also feature wine and beer donated by Glazer's and a signature cocktail donated by Rocktown Distillery, plus a celebration of the 2015 Class of 30 Finest Young Professionals, a silent auction and a concert by Tragikly White. Tickets are $75; proceeds go to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's research program and patient services. Call (501) 371-0233 or visit arkansas.cff.org/tasteofthefinest.
5 SOLDIERS
Koty Mansfield, Ben Mills and Payton Justice play three young, cocky Marines on their way to Vietnam in November 1963 who find the trouble they're looking for in a cruel game in which men put up cash for a party and the one who brings the ugliest girl wins the pot, in the regional premiere of Dogfight (music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, book by Peter Duchan, based on the Warner Bros. movie and screenplay by Bob Comfort), 7 p.m. today-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday at the Studio Theatre, 320 W. Seventh St., Little Rock. The show is considered unsuitable for young audiences. Tickets are $20, $15 for students and senior citizens. Visit eventbrite.com.
6 SOCIAL CONSCIENCE
The Weekend Theater, 1001 W. Seventh St., Little Rock, presents a story of love, hate and problems facing black culture in 1960s Pittsburgh with Two Trains Running, Friday-Sept. 5. Performances of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play start at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $16, $12 for students and ages 65 and older. Call (501) 374-3761 or visit weekendtheater.org.
7 SINGERS
A cast drawn from Opera in the Rock, the University of Central Arkansas and Hendrix College in Conway and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will premiere scenes from a new opera, Richard III: A Crown of Roses, A Crown of Thorns, by Hendrix music professor and composer Karen Griebling, in a concert performance, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Christ Episcopal Church, 509 Scott St., Little Rock. Tenor and co-producer Matthew K. Tatus sings the title role; Griebling says her original libretto, drawn from 15th-century primary sources, redresses "a 500-year injustice." Geoffrey Robson conducts members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra. Admission is free. Email musicianmail-opera@yahoo.com.
8 SIXTIES
The Diamond State Chorus will offer its annual "Jukebox Saturday Night" performance, songs from the '60s, doo-wop, gospel and "jungle sounds," with special guest quartet Men's Barbershop Harmony Society, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday at Argenta Community Theater, 405 Main St., North Little Rock. Tickets are $15, $12.50 students and adults 60 and older in advance; $20 and $15 at the door. "Sterling" will perform for the 9 p.m. special "Afterglow" -- $5 show only, $25 with chicken and salad, $20 with pizza and salad. Visit diamondstatechorus.com or tinyurl.com/diamond22.
9 STRIDES
Easter Seals wants everyone to get moving for their annual Rollin' on the River, 7-10 a.m. Saturday at the Clinton Presidential Center, 1200 President Clinton Ave. In addition to the 5K run and 2K family fun walk, there will be food, awards, games, a bounce house, petting zoo and pony rides. Registration is $25, $10 for children 12 and under. Call (501) 227-3600 or visit eastersealsar.com.
10 "(A COUNTRY BOY CAN) SURVIVE"
Hank Williams Jr. teams up with 38 Special and Whiskey Myers to entertain crowds at the Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion, 5079 W. Northgate Road, Rogers. The concert, featuring some of Williams' hits such as "There's a Tear in My Beer," starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $41. Call (479) 443-5600 or visit arkansasmusicpavilion.com.
Weekend on 08/20/2015