ROLL 'EM!: This time about two years ago, Paper Trails was sharing the scoop about Jonesboro native and actress Jennifer Pierce Mathus having snagged a supporting role in the thriller Dark Places, based on Gillian Flynn's novel.
The DirecTV film stars Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron, who also produced it. Others appearing in the movie include Sterling Jerins, Nicholas Hoult, Christina Hendricks (AMC's Mad Men) and Tye Sheridan (Mud). The film's official premiere was Tuesday at the Harmony Gold Theater in Los Angeles. Legendary actress Sophia Loren was among those attending the premiere.
Mathus, a graduate of Jonesboro High (Class of 1991) who earlier appeared in Red Octopus theater's productions in Little Rock, previously has held smaller roles in Joey Lauren Adams' Come Early Morning and Harry Thomason's The Last Ride, both of which were filmed in and around Little Rock. She also appeared in an episode of ABC's Nashville last year.
Dark Places is set to open in theaters Aug. 7 and is available now on DirecTV.
ROCK ON: After a three-year hiatus, former Maumelle resident Amy Lee -- frontman for the Grammy-winning alternative rock band Evanescence -- is once again making music with the band. The multiplatinum-selling group is launching a tour with November dates at intimate venues in Nashville, Tenn., Dallas and Los Angeles, then heading to Tokyo later that month for a festival. Lee spent part of her three-year hiatus becoming a mom to son Jack Lion Hartzler, who was born last July. When Rolling Stone caught up with her in an interview last summer, Lee had tried her hand at film scoring with her album, Aftermath, comprised of music from and inspired by the indie film War Story.
ADDING THE BACON: For those who may have missed this news, actor Kevin Bacon and his brother Michael will serve as the celebrity grand marshals for the 2016 World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day parade in Hot Springs. Also, Gary Busey, who received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of musician Buddy Holly in 1978's The Buddy Holly Story, will serve as the event's official starter. After the parade, the Bacon brothers' band, which was formed in 1995 and has released six albums, will perform a free concert.
CLEANING HOUSE: Jana DeGeorge, director of marketing for Verizon Arena, recently shared via email a behind-the-scenes peek at some of the North Little Rock facility's maintenance. Earlier this month, 30 workers began re-upholstering 4,300 seats in the 18 sections of the lower bowl, which experience more wear and tear than the seats in the upper bowl.
The work includes taking the seats apart and taking the fabric off the bottom and back, DeGeorge explains. The actual seats are then pressure-washed, and the new seat backs and bottoms are added. It takes three days to complete one section, she writes.
Contact Linda S. Haymes at (501) 399-3636 or lhaymes@arkansasonline.com
SundayMonday on 07/26/2015