What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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in the annual Northwest Arkansas Gridiron Show, a fundraiser in which local journalists write and perform in skits that poke fun at the year's news. This year's version was virtual, and I was so pleased I could share that with my grandma, who was always a big fan and one of our best laughers. It gave me great joy to hear her giggle during a skit featuring recurring characters named Elmer and Aunt Titty. It was a little piece of normal in a very unusual year. Every time I heard another story of people adapting and finding a way to continue to celebrate life amidst the chaos, I was filled with hope. From getting married outside grandma's nursing home window so she could participate, to drive- through graduation ceremonies, to the World Health Organization declaring Santa Claus immune to the virus, I was constantly uplifted by demonstrations of the resilience of the human spirit. Jason Miller Executive Director, Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra Something new we did that brought us joy? My wife and I connected with friends and family for virtual happy hours. It was so nice to utilize technology to connect over so many states. Covid really forced us to use and understand the technology. For the APO, it was all about the community collaborations. Local arts orgs really came together to show each other support and find creative solutions to creating virtual content. One memory that brought hope actually came from early in the pandemic when there was a run on all food and toilet paper. I was encouraged to see people standing up for the elderly at the store to make sure they got what they needed or buying groceries for them and delivering to their doorstep. Humanity is a beautiful thing. Jennifer Ross Director of Programming, Walton Arts Center Sept. 10, 2020 was the date of the first public concert at Walton Arts Center since the theater went dark March 13. Singer-songwriter Bonnie Bishop took the stage and sang her heart out for her small audience. Her sheer joy in performing was contagious and the audience was thrilled to be there. That memory brings me hope for a bright future for the performing arts. 38 WHAT'S UP! JANUARY 10-16, 2021 FEATURE Jason Miller Jennifer Ross Moments Continued From Page 9 Pilot Arts founder Missy Gipson found joy, and some education, in producing the company's fully online theatrical experience, "Holidays At Home: A Virtual Variety Show." Hosts Chad Burris, an Arkansas native, and fellow stage actor Katie Ladner were both working in New York before covid shut down Broadway. (Courtesy Photo/Patti Webb for Pilot Arts)