Faulkner Center adds another layer to arts in Northwest Arkansas

The Jim and Joyce Faulkner Performing Arts Center, which officially opened in September 2015, started off with a 2016-17 season that was a bit on the cautious side with only three productions. Managing Director Nicole Cotton says that, with one season under her belt, she's expanding the options for the 2017-18 season.

"We've doubled the amount of shows to six this year," says Cotton, who says it's both "exciting and terrifying" to increase the activity in the space to this degree.

The state-of-the-art theater, located at 435 Garland Ave. on the UA campus in Fayetteville, has a stage capable of three different configurations and seating for anywhere from 501 to 587 audience members. In addition to the professional series, it is also home to performances of the large musical ensembles on campus.

Cotton says that she responds to feedback from patrons and donors to get the right mix of artists for the season and is careful to include both local artists as well as those from around the country and around the world.

"At our last year's gala, we had a questionnaire asking everyone what their interests were, what they were looking forward to next year," says Cotton. "I took that to heart, and I also always try to consider the educational capacity of the shows we book, as well as how it can benefit both campus and community."

The next season will open, once again, with the Faulkner Center's gala on Sept. 8, where the choral group the Singing Men of Arkansas will present Sing America! "Their music touches on each era, from pre-Civil War on, and covers every type of genre that has come out of American music -- from African American spirituals, to jazz, to barbershop quartets," says Cotton.

The gala is one of the Center's man fundraisers, though Cotton hopes to start a corporate sponsorship program to aid funding next year. There are five tiers, ranging in cost from $2500 to $50,000. Cotton says corporate sponsorships are critical in advancing the professional series.

"The professional series allows our student crew to work with professional artists," she says. "Every time we contract these artists, we also contract them to do master's classes with students on campus, community groups and other schools that might want to cooperate. Without corporate sponsorships, these programs won't be able to move forward."

On November 9, the center will host Jordanian musical artist Farah Siraj.

"I see the culture around Fayetteville beginning to evolve, with different cultures moving in, and I really want to make people aware of those cultures," says Cotton. "I've partnered with the Middle Eastern Studies department here on campus, and we have a partnership for the next three years to bring in a Middle Eastern artist." While Siraj will bring music that reflects her Jordanian roots, says Cotton, "she also moved to Spain and picked up some Flamenco influence, then moved to New York and fell in love with jazz and Latin -- so there is a little bit of fusion in her music." The University of Arkansas Children's Chorus will perform two songs with Siraj, one in English and one in Arabic.

For the holidays, the Center will be showing the Will Ferrell movie "Elf" on December 9. The movie is free, but patrons are encouraged to bring canned goods to donate for the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Campus Food Pantry. "Last year, we told everybody to come dressed as their favorite holiday characters," says Cotton. "We had so many 'elves on the shelves' running around. It is really a lot of family fun."

January 19's "Ozark Old Time New Time" event pays tribute to Ozark music and dance, with a performance by Arkansas natives Still on the Hill as well as Roy Pilgrim and Aviva Steigmeyer of The Ozark Highballers. "We're going to have [square dance] caller Steve Green here, so we're going to be showing a square dance that is native to the Ozarks that is a little different from the traditional square dance," says Cotton. "There will be a workshop for those that want to come up on stage and learn a few steps. It's very family friendly and educational."

March 3 brings what is possibly the Center's most high-profile performance as Cotton hosts the popular bluegrass group The SteelDrivers, touring on the heels of their Grammy-winning fifth album "The Muscle Shoals Recordings."

The season closes out with a May 5 performance of the one-man multimedia show Hard Travelin' with Woody. Writer and performer Randy Noojin recalls the iconic singer/songwriter's travels by boxcar through the heartland of the United States as projections of his artwork fill the stage.

Cotton says that, for the first time, the Center will be offering season tickets: $105 will purchase a general admission season ticket, while senior citizens (over the age of 62) can purchase a season ticket for $80, and UA students and faculty and staff will pay only $55.

"I want these shows to be accessible to all in our community," she says. "I would love to reach out to the crowds that don't usually go to the performing arts programs. I want it to be affordable and family friendly."

NAN Profiles on 06/25/2017