What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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"I loved it," Ross gushes. "'Mean Girls' is fun, it's funny. It's really about a person's integrity versus conforming — so what's happening with everybody around you." Embedded in the razor-sharp humor is a message that Galbraith and Ross agree isn't only for the teenage girls in one's life. "It's one of those shows that will hopefully open up conversations for families about, 'Hey, whats going on at school right now? Do you see any of this? What does that make you feel like?'" Ross poses. One of several shows in the series based on popular films, "Mean Girls" is followed in December by "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (Dec. 15-20). "Do you know the story at all?" Galbraith quips cheekily. Fans will recognize the tale they love in the new musical, regardless of their introduction to the sweet adventure, Galbraith promises. And through clever casting, perhaps children will find a new way to connect to the hero's journey as well, Galbraith adds. "What's interesting is there's really only one kid in it; the other kids are played by young adult actors," he discloses. "So Charlie's situation and plight is more fully realized than in some of the other versions because he is unique. I think that allows kids in the audience to really identify with Charlie in a way they haven't before — which, for kids, is a very important part of their experience of the show." The first show of 2021 is actually touring on its way to Broadway when it stops here. As with "Mean Girls," the brand new musical "An Officer and a Gentleman" (March 9-14, 2021) sees the original book writer of the film, Douglas Day Stewart, return to the project to adapt it to the theater. "Gentleman" was staged in London last year before receiving some tweaks to go on the road here in the States this fall on a pre-Broadway track, Galbraith explains. Ross and Galbraith are eager to give Northwest Arkansas audiences the chance to be among the first to experience the romantic show based on the Academy Award-winning film starring Richard Gere. "It's the best of the film in terms of the plot, and musically, it's borrowing from the '80s songbook — including the classic song from the film," Galbraith explains, "but [the adaptation is imbued] with this new-found respect for the military, which I think is exactly the right tone for this time. I'm very eager to see how that comes to fruition." The May 2021 offering in the series has the air of a truly special piece of theater as both Ross and Galbraith are visibly emotional just describing the plot. Following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the United States closed the airspace, and flights could no longer enter the country. The tiny Newfoundland town of Gander suddenly found itself host to 38 landed planes — 7,000 stranded passengers. MARCH 22-28, 2020 WHAT'S UP! 9 "Come From Away," a story of the human spirit in the wake of 9/11, will take the stage at the WAC during the 20th anniversary year of the terrorist attacks. "Anybody of a certain age remembers where they were and what they were doing on 9/11. We all have our stories," Galbraith says gently. "This is a show that allows you to bring that. It's fine. And you get to process and heal with it along the way. You leave better than you came in." (Courtesy Photo/Matthew Murphy) See WAC Page 10 FYI WAC 2020-21 Broadway Season "My Fair Lady" Sept. 15-20 From Lincoln Center Theater that brought you "The King & I" and "South Pacific," comes "a sump- tuous new production of the most perfect musical of all time" (Entertain- ment Weekly). Boasting such classic songs like "I Could Have Danced All Night" and "The Rain in Spain," "My Fair Lady" tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a linguistics profes- sor who is determined to transform her into his idea of a "proper lady." But who is really being trans- formed? "Mean Girls"* Nov. 3-8 Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. Soon, this naive newbie falls prey to a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina's reign, she learns the hard way that you can't cross a Queen Bee with- out getting stung. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"* Dec. 15-20 Willy Wonka is opening his marvel- ous and mysterious chocolate factory — to a lucky few. That includes Charlie Bucket, whose bland life is about to burst with color and confection beyond his wildest dreams. The new musical features songs from the original film, including "Pure Imagination," "The Candy Man" and "I've Got a Golden Ticket," alongside a toe-tap- ping and ear-tickling new score from the songwriters of "Hair- spray." "An Officer and a Gentleman"* March 9-14, 2021 Zack Mayo's got smarts and a body built for U.S. Navy pilot boot camp, but he also has too much swagger — until he meets a drill sergeant who's determined to drill his arrogance out of him. Zack finds comfort in the arms of a local factory girl. But it isn't until tragedy befalls a fellow candi- date that Zack learns the importance of love and friendship, finds the courage to be his best self and wins the heart of the woman he loves. "Come From Away"* May 11-16, 2021 This New York Times Critics' Pick takes you into the heart of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded airline passengers and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed and nerves ran high, but uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night and grati- tude grew into enduring friendships. "Freestyle Love Supreme"* June 1-6, 2021 Every performance, the crew takes the crowd on a freestyle, hip-hop, improvisational, never-before-seen comedy ride. See it for the first time every time as the performers take suggestions from the audience and spin them into instantaneous riffs and full-length musical numbers. The Washington Post says "it's a delight- fully wit-laced evening of comedy rap for a wide range of ages." BONUS — Tickets to "The Book of Mormon," returning to WAC this July, are still available. COST — Six-show subscription packages range from $278 to $474; Broadway subscriptions are on sale now, with single tickets available in the summer INFO — 443-5600, waltonartscenter. org *Arkansas premiere