CONWAY — The Conway Women’s Chorus will celebrate Arkansas with a spring concert this month, which will be presented at two performances.
Joan Hanna of Wooster, director of the Conway Women’s Chorus, said the program, Arkansas: The Natural State, will include “Riversong,” by Andy Beck, and “Blue Skies,” by Irving Berlin, “which will transport you to an early spring afternoon ‘sittin’ on the porch.’”
“If toe-tappin’ is more your style, clap along as the ladies sing a medley of folk and bluegrass favorites — ‘Sourwood,’ ‘Cripple Creek,’ ‘Old Joe Clark’ and more,” Hanna said.
To complete the evening of song, the chorus will present several of Arkansas’ state songs — “Arkansas,” the state anthem, by Eva Ware Barnett; “Oh Arkansas,” by Terry Rose and Gary Klaf; “Arkansas Waltz,” by Bill Urfer and Cletus Jones; and “Arkansas You Run Deep in Me,” by Wayland Holyfield, which is the official state song.
“Wayland Holyfield has sent us an unpublished arrangement of his classic song,” Hanna said.
Hanna said the spring concert will have a little different twist this year — a T-shirt contest.
“A prize will be given for the best Arkansas T-shirt,” she said, smiling. “The only entry rule is that the name ‘Arkansas’ must be on the shirt.”
The first performance will be a dinner-theater version of Arkansas: The Natural State on Friday in collaboration with Renewal Ranch. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by the concert at 7:15 at Renewal Ranch, 75 Lake Drive in Houston, Arkansas.
“Renewal Ranch reached out to us to do this benefit,” Hanna said. “Don Bingham,[chairman of the Renewal Ranch Board of Directors, chef and cookbook author], came to our Christmas show and suggested this collaboration afterward. We are always looking for new places to sing … to help others in the community, so we were happy to do this concert as a fundraiser for them.”
Hanna said Renewal Ranch will provide a buffet dinner “based on Arkansas’ great
agriculture products.” The menu includes Arkansas Chicken and Rice Stew, Ozark Cornbread, Aunt Lulu’s Cabbage Slaw and Arkansas Mud Cake, prepared under Bingham’s direction.
Patrons must make reservations for the benefit. Tickets are $20, and the proceeds will benefit Renewal Ranch’s mission of helping men with substance abuse regain their lives and become productive members of the community. To purchase tickets, call (501) 339-7401. For tickets through PayPal, visit the website conwaywomenschorus.org.
The Konway Kickers clogging team, under the direction of Donna Bivins of Conway, will provide additional entertainment at Friday night’s benefit performance.
The Conway Women’s Chorus will present the concert only at 2 p.m. April 28 at Wesley United Methodist Church, 2310 E. Oak St. in Conway. There is no admission charge.
Members of the chorus performing in the spring concert include Nancy Henderson of Wooster and Dee Woodrum and Teena Woodworth, both of Conway, sopranos I; Mimi Carlin of Conway and Lisa Bouabedi, Jan Newcomer and Kimberly Norris, all of Greenbrier, sopranos II; and Ruth Bass-Burgess of Bee Branch, Anita Bayless, Judie Burney, Bert Lackie, Bonda Moyer and Shellie O’Quinn, all of Conway, and Kayla Pointer of Greenbrier, altos. Pointer is also the student director. The accompanying pianist is Erin Fehr of Alexander.