1 BRIDGES
A wife and mother finds unexpected passion in The Bridges of Madison County, a Tony-winning musical by Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman. The Arkansas Repertory Theatre production has a preview and pre-show director talk at 6:15 p.m. today. Opening night is Friday and the production runs through May 1. Show times are 7 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday and Sunday, 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $40-$55, and Pay Your Age Night for ages 22-40 is Sunday. Call (501) 378-0405 or visit therep.org. See story on Page 4E.
2 BULLS
Bucking bulls and determined riders return to North Little Rock's Verizon Arena for the Professional Bull Riders: Built Ford Tough Series, 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $12.50-$302.50. Call (800) 745-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com. See story on Page 5E.
3 "BELIEVE"
Mumford & Sons, on its "Arrow Through the Heartland" Tour in support of the album Wilder Mind, performs at 8 p.m. today at North Little Rock's Verizon Arena. Remaining tickets are $59.50 (plus applicable service charges). Call (800) 743-3000 or visit ticketmaster.com. See Music Scene on Page 5E.
4 BUMPER CARS
Winter is over and the rides of Magic Springs are warming up for the spring and summer season. The theme park, 1701 E. Grand Ave., Hot Springs, opens Saturday and will be open 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays in April. Admission in April is $15. Call (501) 624-0100 or visit magicsprings.com. See story on Page 4E.
5 Guitarist Ted Ludwig will be the soloist in the world premiere of D.J. Sparr's Concerto for Jazz Guitar and Orchestra: Katrina as the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and conductor Philip Mann close their 2015-16 Stella Boyle Smith Masterworks Series at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at Maumelle Performing Arts Center, Maumelle High School, 100 Victory Lane, Maumelle. Also on the program: Leonard Bernstein's Candide Overture and Dmitri Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5. Sponsor is the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Guild. Tickets are $19-$58, $10 for students and active duty military, free to the Sunday matinee for K-12 kids with a paying adult. Call (501) 666-1761, Extension 100, or visit ArkansasSymphony.org. See story on Page 4E.
6 BAGELS, ETC.
Load up on knishes and kugel at the Jewish Food and Cultural Festival, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium. The festival includes a menu full of traditional Jewish and Israeli foods, plus information booths, gift items and a replica of the Western Wall. Admission is free. Call (501) 663-3571 or visit jewisharkansas.org.
7 BIKES
Downtown Little Rock will be a haven for bicycle riders on Sunday. The Rock City Ramble, a bike-themed scavenger hunt through Little Rock and North Little Rock, starts at 11 a.m. in the River Market, 400 President Clinton Ave. Participation is $7 for solo riders, $20 for competitive teams, $15 for families. Call (501) 375-2552.
Avid cyclists, novices and everyone in between can find what they need to get their two-wheeler going at Pedalpalooza, 2-4 p.m. Sunday in the River Market. Bike shops will have booths with spring sales for the 2016 cycling season and other businesses and groups will offer bicycle-theme gear. Nonprofit and community advocacy booths will also be available to answer questions and explain their missions. Admission is free. Call (501) 320-3503.
8 BROWSE
The Friends of Contemporary Craft, an auxiliary membership group of the Arkansas Arts Center, will take visitors on its second annual Open Studio Tour, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, that includes the studios of eight area craft-based artisans working in ceramics, glass, fiber, metal and wood. A 9 a.m. reception, including complimentary coffee and refreshments, kicks off the tour at the New Deal Gallery and Studio, 2003 Louisiana St., Little Rock. Admission is free; a portion of artists' sales throughout the tour benefits the FOCC. A list of the studios (which visitors can see in any order), a map and driving directions is available at the Facebook page, facebook.com/AACFOCC. A closing reception will follow at 4-7 p.m. at Boswell-Mourot Fine Art, 5815 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock. Call (501) 372-4000 or visit arkansasartscenter.org/friends-of-contemporary-craft.
9 BLUES
Award-winning blues singer Ruthie Foster performs at 8 p.m. today at South on Main, 1304 Main St., Little Rock. The show closes out Oxford American Magazine's 2015-16 Archetypes & Troubadours Series. Doors open at 6, at which time and you can buy food and drinks. Tickets are $22-$32. Call (800) 293-5949 or visit Metrotix.com.
10 BORN-AGAIN
Born-again Christian comedian Chonda Pierce brings her "Focus on the Funny" Tour to central Arkansas, performing at 2:30 and 7 p.m. (evening performance is sold-out) Saturday at Woodland Heights Baptist Church, 4215 Prince St., Conway. Tickets are $25, $45 VIP. Call (800) 965-9324 or visit itickets.com. See story on Page 8E.
Weekend on 04/07/2016