Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts:
TODAY
Brown Bag lecture
Latonya Wilson, a program assistant at the Old State House Museum, chronicles the life of Mifflin Wistar Gibbs, a Little Rock businessman, politician and the first black elected municipal judge in the United States, in a Brown Bag Lunch Lecture titled "Arkansas Municipal Judge Mifflin Gibbs," noon today at the museum, 300 W. Markham St., Little Rock.
Admission is free; attendees provide their own lunches and the museum provides soft drinks and water. Call (501) 324-9685 or visit oldstatehouse.org.
Gibbs subsequently played a prominent part in the state Republican Party, served in various federal patronage positions in Little Rock and President William McKinley appointed him as a U.S. consul to Madagascar in 1897.
FRIDAY
2nd Friday Art Night
For Little Rock's 2nd Friday Art Night, 5-8 p.m. Friday:
• At the Old State House, Stephen Koch, author of Louis Jordan: Son of Arkansas, Father of R&B and host of public radio's Arkansongs, will host a screening of Arkansas musician Louis Jordan's 1947 film Look-Out, Sister!, discuss the film's history, context and significance and moderate an audience question-and-answer session. The event will also feature special Valentine-theme activities and refreshments. Admission, snacks and beverages are free. Call (501) 324-9685, email info@oldstatehouse.org or visit oldstatehouse.org.
• At Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St., a Valentine's Day-theme event will include Little Rock musicians Phillip Rex Huddleston and John Willis performing "Dream Baby, a Sonic Valentine"; artist Laurie Ament offering a trunk show of her lamp-work glass beads and hand-felted scarves in the Museum Store; and the museum serving beverages (including beer from Little Rock's Stone's Throw Brewing and a special nonalcoholic cocktail, Cupid's Bow, by Little Rock blogger Mocktail Mo) and appetizers in the Stella Boyle Smith Atrium. Sponsor is the Historic Arkansas Museum Foundation, with special thanks to 107 Liquor. Admission is free. Call (501) 324-9351 or visit historicarkansas.org.
SATURDAY
Jazz heroes' stories
The Mosaic Templars Cultural Center's Story Time Saturday, 11 a.m. Saturday at Loblolly Creamery, 1423 Main St., Little Rock, will introduce nine jazz heroes through a read-aloud of This Jazz Man by Karen Ehrhardt. Children can even play along on instruments to the rhythmic story. The shop is also selling a new maple pecan ice cream flavor, Maple Leaf Ragtime, developed in honor of Maple Leaf Rag composer Scott Joplin. Loblolly will donate to the museum a portion of the proceeds of all sales of the flavor, which will be available until March 31. Call (501) 683-3593 or email info@mosaictemplarscenter.com.
Chocolate festival
Chocolatiers showcase and promote their products while offering samples to attendees at the 16th annual Eureka Springs Chocolate Lovers' Festival, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at the Eureka Springs Community Center, 44 Kingshighway, Eureka Springs. Tickets are $12.50. Visit eurekaspringschamber.com.
AUDITIONS
Memphis tryouts
Argenta Community Theater, 405 Main St., North Little Rock, will hold auditions for the musical Memphis (music by David Bryan, lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro, book by DiPietro), 1-6 p.m. March 21, with callbacks 1-4 p.m. March 22. Be ready to perform 16 bars of a song — not from the show — that showcases your vocal range, in the style of rock n' roll or Southern gospel. The auditions will also include cold readings from the script and a dance call (wear comfortable clothing). Director Brandon Box-Higdem and choreographer Christen Pitts will cast six character roles and 20-25 ensemble actors/singers of all genders, races and ethnicities who will take on multiple roles. Production dates are July 15-25; rehearsals begin in mid-June. A complete list of characters and their descriptions is available at ArgentaCommunityTheater.org/auditions. Email Casting@ArgentaCommunityTheater.org for an audition appointment; walk-ins will also be welcome.
Weekend on 02/13/2020