What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1197021
2005, and we opened the first floor as meeting space on June 30." • The University of Arkansas Theatre unveiled in April the ambitious renovation of the UA Global Campus Theatre on the Fayetteville square. "It will be the most state-of-the-art, digitally equipped black box theater in the state of Arkansas," theater chairman Michael Riha said of the renovated space, which includes an 18-foot lighting grid, a sprung floor, two five- person dressing rooms, a production booth, an upstairs balcony for orchestras or actor entrances, a box office and a storage space. • Playwright Oren Safdie returned to Arkansas Public Theatre in November for the premiere of "Things to Do in Munich." "The [theatrical] love affair began when Rogers Little Theater presented a reading of 'Private Jokes, Public Places' while I was in Bentonville for the opening of my father's museum," explained Safdie, whose father, Moshe Safdie, designed Crystal Bridges. "The subscribers and the entire community were so welcoming and appreciative of my work — it's kind of a playwright's dream." • In November, the Walmart AMP announced a $13.9 million expansion and a new five-year partnership with concert promoter Live Nation Entertainment. The expansion will increase the venue's capacity from roughly 10,000 to 11,000 meaning more acts may consider performing there, as some entertainers will not perform at venues that don't seat more than 10,000 people. Additions will also include a new box office, a covered plaza at the top of the lawn that will add 15,000 square feet of viewing and event space, tiered seating at the front of the lawn for 1,200 people and more. The partnership with Live Nation, who the venue has worked with since 2014, means the promoter will have the preferred rights to promote live music events at the AMP and will continue bringing top-tier acts to Rogers. • And in 2018, Fayetteville residents started talking about designating an arts corridor, intended to "incorporate recreational elements, public art, streetscaping, pedestrian pathways and open gathering spaces, integrating natural and urban landscapes." 2019 The Big News In November 2016, TheatreSquared revealed plans for its new theater: 50,000 square feet, two performance spaces and state-of-the-art scene and costume shops were but a few of the features the design team promised the public. In 2019 they delivered in spades, and the public got their first look when "Shakespeare in Love" debuted as the premiere production in the new space. "It's like walking around in your dream," said Artistic Director and theater co-founder Robert Ford of the new facility. Other Milestones • Preacher, farmer and folk artist Ed Stilley, who created hundreds of homemade guitars with the engraving "True Faith, True Light, Have Faith in God," passed away at the age of 88. • The Walton Arts Center announced a Broadway season that was very of-the-moment. "Our audiences are always clamoring for the latest and greatest to come directly from Broadway," Scott Galbraith told reporter Jocelyn Murphy in March. "And typically we're able to get one, two, shows a year that are in that category — that are brand new from the season before, recent award-winners or in their first year of touring. This year, we have an abundance of them." • Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art had a banner year: At the time of publication, the museum was on track to break attendance records (nearly 5 million patrons have crossed the threshold in the eight years the museum has been open), mounted several groundbreaking exhibits like "Men of Steel, Women of Wonder" and "Crystals in Art: Ancient to Today," and acquired exciting new work from a diverse roster of artists. And Looking Ahead 2020 Silver Dollar City On Aug. 13, 2019, Brad Thomas, president of Silver Dollar City Attractions, announced a $23 million addition to the park in 2020. Mystic River Falls, designed by the park in partnership with Swiss firm RES — or Ride Engineers Switzerland — and Barr Engineering, will include the tallest raft ride drop in the Western Hemisphere, Thomas said. "You will laugh. You may laugh so hard you snort — and you will certainly get wet," he said. Passengers in round boats will 40 WHAT'S UP! JANUARY 5-11, 2020 COVER STORY Decade Continued From Page 7 NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Visitors throw confetti Aug. 8, 2019, as Robert Ford, artistic director for TheatreSquared, and Martin Miller, executive director, celebrate as ceremonial ribbons are cut officially opening the new 50,000-square-foot space facility in Fayetteville.