What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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opportunity to share this more widely." "Designing Women" is the first of an eight-show season — the largest season T2 has ever announced, made possible by the dual Spring and West theaters in the new building. The second show on the schedule doesn't let the momentum slow: It's the award-winning Broadway musical "Violet," featuring music by Jeanine Tesori, who was also the composer for T2's 2017 hit production of "Fun Home." "It's 1964. When Violet hops onto a Greyhound bus traveling across Arkansas towards a miracle in Tulsa — the healing touch of a TV evangelist who she hopes will make her beautiful — it turns into the journey of a lifetime," said Ford. "In its Critics' Pick review, The New York Times called it 'a terrific, heart-stirring, enduringly rewarding musical with tangy flavors of country, gospel, blues and honky- tonk rock.'" The third show of the season is another brand new script that T2 had a hand in developing: "At the Wedding" by Bryna Turner. "Thanks to our relationship with the playwright, we've gotten special permission to produce it in Northwest Arkansas just weeks after its New York debut," said Miller. "Here's the playwright's description: 'Carlo is going to be really well behaved today. She's not going to get drunk. She's not going to give any long-winded speeches. And she's definitely not going to try to steal the bride back.'" For the traditional holiday show, T2 announced plans to bring back the Amy Herzberg- and Robert Ford- adapted version of "A Christmas Carol" produced last year — but there's a new twist. "So many of you told us that you'd love for it to be a new Northwest Arkansas holiday tradition," Herzberg told the crowd. "We are excited not only to bring back TheatreSquared's own Christmas Carol, but also to bring it to another beautiful new performance space: the brand new Fayetteville Public Library." The first show of 2021, "School Girls, or, the African Mean Girls Play" was described as "a gleeful African makeover of an American genre" in The New York Times. "It's a brand-new play that turned into a surprise cultural phenomenon in its New York debut," noted Miller. The next show on the season's schedule, said Ford, is a clever callback to last year. "We opened this beautiful new facility this past fall with 'Shakespeare in Love.' In the closing scene, the Queen advised Viola, 'Tell Master Shakespeare, something more cheerful next time — for Twelfth Night.' We know better than to say 'no' to the Queen." T2's production of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" will be the first Shakespeare the theater has taken on since 2014. Lauren Gunderson is currently the most-performed playwright in the United States, and, said Herzberg, for good reason. "When we heard she had a brand new play, we went to great lengths to specially negotiate the rights to produce it even before they were generally available. This wonderful new work is called 'The Half-Life of Marie Curie.' Fresh from its New York debut, it mixes science, scandal, comedy and plenty of heart as it profiles two rock-star scientists, both women at the heights and depths of their lives and careers. It positively radiates warmth, inspiration and humor." The final show of this eclectic season will be "American Mariachi" by Jose Cruz Gonzalez, about an all- female mariachi band. "We love to close the season with plenty of energy and live music, and we'll have tons of both in 'American Mariachi'", said Miller. "This brand new, music-filled, hilarious and heartwarming story is about the freedom to dream big. Infused with live music, this play which The Denver Post called a 'big-hearted, musical tug at the heartstrings' reminds us how music and love can make just about anything possible." Ford closed out the evening by introducing a new piece of art, commissioned in honor of the theater's 15th anniversary and created by Octavio Logo. "Our 15th anniversary feels like a very special occasion — a testament to this region's hunger and appreciation for remarkable live theater, done well and with passion," said Ford. Journey to the past. MARCH 10-15 | 8 SHOWS THIS WEEK! Media Support: Broadway Series Sponsor: 4 WHAT'S UP! MARCH 8-14, 2020 T2 Continued From Page 3 COVER STORY