What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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right here in Arkansas." Since stages went dark in March, Pilot Arts has been presenting virtual workshops for its actors and, according to Gipson, is gearing up for spring shows. One of them will be a song cycle titled "The Passion Project," in which, Gipson says, "12 brilliant women sing to their great loves: the object of their careers. An aviator sings to her airplane, an acrobat to her tightrope, an astronomer to her comet, etc. It features the stories of real women from history and now." Also in the plans is an original new musical for kids titled "Robot Kids." "It's a new landscape," Gipson says of using the internet to reach performers and audiences. "This is my first time doing a show like this, so learning in the moment has been challenging, but really positive. I've definitely expanded my palette for creating. It also highlights the importance of having the right people with a motivated mindset to complete a project like this." "I think it's important to get theater back," adds Burris. "I loved being able to be creative on this project, but I am really ready for our country to step it up in helping theaters and artists actually work. Artists want to be creative, but we also need to pay our bills, and theaters need support to keep the lights on during this hard time." Go to: facebook.com/BestBranson Like The Best of Branson on Facebook for a chance to win some Really Great Prizes! This week's prize: New contest each week! facebook.com/BestBranson LIKE our Facebook page before 11:59 pm this Tuesday, Dec. 15, to be entered to win a $25 GIFT CARD TO $25 GiFT CArD Branson, MO 2845 W. Hwy. 76 417-320-6357 Nixa, MO 606 W. Mount Vernon 417-374-7394 DECEMBER 13-19, 2020 WHAT'S UP! 41 PRESIDENT Brent A. Powers EDITOR Becca Martin-Brown 479-872-5054 bmartin@nwadg.com Twitter: NWAbecca ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jocelyn Murphy 479-872-5176 jmurphy@nwadg.com Twitter: NWAJocelyn DESIGNER Deb Harvell 479-872-5029 REPORTER Lara Hightower 479-365-2913 lhightower@nwadg.com WHAT'S What's Up! is a publication of the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. ON THE COVER Chad Burris, from Alma, and Katie Ladner, from Jack- son, Miss., will co-host a virtual holiday variety show for Pilot Arts. Burris had just finished a run playing Olaf in the Broadway hit "Frozen," and he was two days into a new role as Damian in "Mean Girls" when covid-19 hit. Ladner was workshopping a play bound for Broadway. Both ended up sheltering with their families during the hiatus. (COURTESY PHOTO/PATTI WEBB FOR PILOT ARTS) In addition to some serious vocal performance, Ladner will host a crafting segment for Pilot Arts' "Holidays At Home: A Virtual Variety Show." (Courtesy Photo/Patti Webb for Pilot Arts) Broadway Continued From Page 3 COVER STORY