CONWAY—The Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre at the University of Central Arkansas and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School of Literary and Performing Arts will partner on a production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.”
Stacy Pendergraft, co-director of UA Little Rock’s School of Literary and Performing Arts, is piloting and teaching a new theatre course called Theatre on the Road. The class will utilize AST’s latest musical adaptation of “Twelfth Night” adapted and scored by AST Managing Director Chad Bradford. The show will tour to various schools in central Arkansas as well as Our House, a Little Rock-based shelter.
The project will also include the creation of a series of virtual learning materials that will be made available to educators around the state at no cost.
“Through funding from the Arkansas Arts Council, we have been able to craft virtual learning experiences for the past two years,” said Bradford. “This collaboration will allow us to explore a script that was crafted especially for the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre tour and create a virtual series that goes behind the scenes into the rehearsal process. Teachers and students will get insight into rehearsals, acting techniques, and how to stage a show.”
Interested teachers and educators can learn more about educational opportunities by visiting the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre website at arkshakes.com.
The original version of the show debuted in 2016 and toured all over Arkansas, as well as western New York. The show was also the centerpiece for the “Shakespeare on the River” festival in San Antonio, Texas, and played to sold-out crowds on the San Antonio Riverwalk.
“We stand with our partners at AST in a firm stance that crafting arts education experiences that we can take to schools is good for our college students and good for the young people of Arkansas. Training our majors in the practice, power, and the great fun of educational touring gives them a unique and immediately applicable skill set. The fact that our course explores Shakespeare and will further develop partnership with our colleagues at AST and UCA is a win win,” said Pendergraft.
The performances, which are free and open to the public, will take place at the following times and locations:
Friday, March 3
Haislip Theatre at UA Little Rock at 3:30 p.m.
University Theatre at UA Little Rock at 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 4
Main Library-Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) at 2 p.m.
Monday, March 6
Parkview Arts and Science Magnet High School at 1 p.m.
Tuesday, March 7
Roosevelt Thompson Library – CALS at 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 9
North Little Rock High School at 10 a.m.
Friday, March 10
Founders Classical Academy at 8:30 a.m.
Monday, March 13
Pinnacle View Middle School at 9 a.m.
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