Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts:
Tree lighting online
The Hillcrest Merchants Association will hold a virtual tree lighting as part of its “Holidays in Hillcrest,” 6 p.m. today, with Christmas carols at 6:30 at Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 2200 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock. Visit tinyurl.com/y3bj888v.
‘Klansman’ book talk
Edward Ball, author of “Life of a Klansman,” will discuss it in a virtual book talk, 6:30 p.m. today, part of the Central Arkansas Library System’s Six Bridges Book Festival. Tom DeBlack, professor of history at Arkansas Tech University, will moderate. Bell is a descendant of a Louisiana carpenter who took up the cause of fanatical racism during the years after the Civil War and became a member of the Ku Klux Klan. “Admission” is free; reservations are required, via cals.org. Call (501) 918-3098.
Live@5 livestream
Blues rocker Billy Jeter will perform at 5 p.m. Friday, livestreaming on the Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas’ Facebook page, facebook.com/asc701. The performance is part of the center’s monthly first Friday Live@5 concert series, focusing on jazz, blues, and rock ’n’ roll. Visit asc701.org/live-at-5. A virtual donation box will be available. Sponsor is M.K. Distributors.
‘Carol’ onstage, online
TheatreSquared, 477 W. Spring St., Fayetteville, will offer onstage and streaming online, “A Christmas Carol,” adapted by Amy Herzberg and Bob Ford from Charles Dickens’ holiday classic. Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Dec. 11 and 15-18; 2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 12-13, 19-20, 23 and 26; 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Dec. 24; and 2 p.m. Dec. 27. A few in-person seats are $27-$50 (with some $10 seats available for patrons under 30); streaming access, via theatre2.org, is $20. Call (479) 777-7477.
History sandwich
St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 1622 Marshall St., Little Rock, will be the focus of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program’s “Sandwiching in History” tour, noon Friday via the program’s Facebook page. It’s free to “attend.” Call (501) 324-9150 or email info@arkansaspreservation.com.
Spa City gallery
Work by Michael Ashley, Beverly Buys, Donnie Copeland, Mia Hall, Matthew Hasty, Jeri Hillis, Robyn Horn, Dolores Justus, John Lasater, Linda Palmer, Sammy Peters, Tony Saladino, Sandra Sell, Gene Sparling, Dan Thornhill and Elizabeth Weber will be on display, starting with an opening reception, 5-9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at Justus Fine Art Gallery, 827A Central Ave., Hot Springs. The exhibit will be up through Dec. 31. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday and by appointment. Call (501) 321-2335 or visit justusfineart.com.
Roots, jazz at WAC
Roots musician Paul Thorn performs at 7:30 p.m. today at Fayetteville’s Walton Arts Center, 495 W. Dickson St. The concert is part of the center’s Procter & Gamble Ghost Light Programming. The Emmet Cohen Trio — pianist and composer Emmet Cohen, bassist Russell Hall and drummer Kyle Poole — perform at 7:30 pm Saturday, part of the center’s Unilever Starrlight Jazz Series. Tickets for each show are $32-$52 plus fees. Call (479) 443-5600 or visit waltonartscenter.org.
Arts honorees
The Arkansas Arts Council has named the recipients of the 2021 Governor’s Arts Awards:
◼️ Arts Community Development Award: Retired high school choir director Pat Qualls-Taylor of Jonesboro.
◼️ Arts in Education Award: Poet and author Kai Coggin of Hot Springs
◼️ Corporate Sponsorship of the Arts Award: Little Rock event rental and production company Bylites Inc.
◼️ Folklife Award: woodworker and retired educator Joe Doster of Huntsville
◼️ Individual Artist Award: Benton painter, printmaker, sculptor and animator Warren Criswell
◼️ Patron Award: The Bob Bogle Family, Bentonville
◼️ Judges Recognition Award: Hot Springs poet, author, retired educator and community activist Elmer Beard
◼️ Lifetime Achievement Award: West Fork-based musical duo Trout Fishing in America.
Gallery’s 2021 lineup
Cantrell Gallery, 8208 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, opens its 2021 exhibit schedule with a group show, Jan. 15-March 13.
The rest of the lineup:
◼️ March 19-May 15: Works by founder N. Scott
◼️ May 21-July 10: Works by Little Rock artist Rebecca Thompson
◼️ July 16-Sept. 4: Paintings by Colorado artist and Arkansas native John Wooldridge
◼️ Sept. 10-Oct. 30: Paintings by Little Rock artist Megan Lewis
◼️ Nov. 5-Dec. 24: Works by Kae Barron
Call (501) 224-1335 or visit cantrellgallery.com.
Ballet campaign
Ballet Arkansas used Giving Tuesday to launch a capital campaign it is calling its “Pointe to the Future Resiliency Fund.” The peer-to-peer campaign has a goal of $450,000, to be raised in three phases, before Dec. 31, 2021. Dancers, staff, volunteers, board members and fans are serving as fundraisers. The money will go to performances, education programs and community cast opportunities throughout the state. As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, the campaign had brought in $37,344.62. More information is available at tinyurl.com/y4kapkds.