What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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FEBRUARY 5-11, 2023 WHAT'S UP! 7 Above All, Love Reed stars as 'sparkling diamond' of 'Moulin Rouge' MONICA HOOPER NWA Democrat-Gazette I t will take 11 trucks to bring "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" to the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. The Baum Walker stage will transform into 1899 Paris for a "bohemian revolution" of "truth, beauty, freedom and above all — love!" opening Feb. 9. Courtney Reed, who plays Satine in the show, says it's "an absolute spectacle" that she guarantees will be loved by all. "It just has every element of a Broadway show that you could possibly want." Reed has been involved in theater since age 6. She is best known for originating the role of Princess Jasmine in Disney's "Aladdin," for which she received a Grammy nomination. She made her Broadway debut in "Mamma Mia!" and played Carla in "In the Heights." "What I think is really fun about Satine is that she's super glamorous. She gets to wear all these spectacular costumes," Reed says. "It feels similar to when I'm the star of a show, and I go into the stage door, and people admire you. And that's all really fun." The 38-year-old has also had TV spots on "Liza on Demand," "Search Party," "The Affair," "Law & Order: SVU," "White Collar," "NYV 22" and "CSI: NY." But unlike her character in "Moulin Rouge," an actress and courtesan who is "very closed off," Reed says she is a romantic. "I'm very open-hearted, and I fall quickly in love," she says. However, once Satine meets Christian, Reed says she feels more of herself in the role, especially when performing "Come What May," "when she really gets to just be in love with him instead of having to fight the urge to be in love. She doesn't know these feelings, so it's really fun to actually discover [myself] a little bit in light of what Satine brings out in me." Even after a year of playing Satine, Reed says that the material stays fresh because of the cast. "You discover new things all the time," Reed says. "I think it's interesting when understudies go on; you discover new things because of the way that they interpret the character. You think that once it's all set you're sort of set in your shell, but I'm discovering new things all the time." Even with the other leading actor, Conor Ryan who plays Christian, there can be those subtle shifts that make FAYETTEVILLE FAQ 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' WHAT — A celebration of truth, beauty, freedom and above all — love. The 2001 Baz Luhrman film comes to the stage with a remixed musical mashup of songs from "from Offenbach to Lady Gaga." WHEN — 1:30 & 7 p.m. Feb. 9; 8 p.m. Feb. 10; 2 & 8 p.m. Feb. 11; 2 p.m. Feb. 12; 7 p.m. Feb. 14 & Feb. 15; 1:30 & 7 p.m. Feb. 16; 8 p.m. Feb. 17; 2 & 8 p.m. Feb. 18; 2 p.m. Feb. 19 WHERE — Walton Arts Center, 495 W. Dickson St. COST — Tickets start at $51 INFO — 443-5600 or waltonartscenter.org BONUS — The "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" VIP experience is also avail- able for $45 a person with heavy hors d'oeu- vres, desserts and an open bar preshow and at intermission. See Moulin Rouge Page 37 "I just got engaged about a month ago. So I'm really, really excited. And my fiance and I are just basking in the new engagement," Courtney Reed beams. "We're definitely going to do a nice dinner and maybe like a stroll in a nice park there." "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" is coming to Walton Arts Center Feb. 9-19. (Courtesy Photo/Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)