LITTLE ROCK — Kathakali, an Indian dance drama by Viswanath Kaladharan and Kalamandalam Shanmukhan, will open the 2009-10 season for Artspree, the University of Arkansas at Little Rock's performing arts series, at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, Fine Arts Building, UALR, 2801 S. University Ave.
The Kathakali art form, which originated in 17thcentury India, combines dancing, acting, vocal music, percussion and costumes. Shanmukhan will perform selected scenes from prominent Kathakali plays; Kaladharan will explain the story and context beforehand. A question and answer session on stagecraft and aesthetics will follow the performance.
Tickets are $20 for the main floor, $17 for the balcony, $10 for non-UALR students, free for UALR students. Group discounts are available. Call (501) 569-3288.
The rest of the Artspree schedule:
Oct. 29: Arianna String Quartet
Jan. 31: Pianist Yeol Eum Son, 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition silver medalist.
March 7: Gabriel Bianco, 2008 Guitar Foundation of American Competition winner.
Brass quintet
The American Brass Quintet - Raymond Mase and Kevin Cobb, trumpets; David Wakefield, horn; Michael Powell, trombone; and John D. Rojak, bass trombone - will give a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the Stella BoyleSmith Concert Hall, Fine Arts Building, University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
The program: three baroque Canzoni, by Erasmus Widmann, Antonio Troilo and William Brade, edited by Mase; Fantasia e Rondo by Osvaldo Lacerda; Brass Quintet by Shafer Mahoney; Entrance by David Sampson; Five Pieces by Ludwig Maurer; and Colchester Fantasy by Eric Ewazen.
Call (479) 575-4701 or visit the Web site, music.uark.edu.
Piano recital
Harding University faculty member Scott Carrell will give a piano recital at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Reynolds Center Recital Hall at Harding in Searcy.
Carrell will play the Piano Sonata No. 2 in g minor, op.22, by Robert Schumann; Sillages by Louis Aubert; and several pieces by Frederic Chopin, including the Scherzo in csharp minor, op.39; Etude in A-flat major, op.25 No. 1; Prelude in D-flat major, op.28 No. 15; Mazurkas in B-flat major and a minor, op.7 Nos. 1 and 2; Nocturne in e minor, op.72 No. 1; and the Polonaise in A-flat major, op.53.
Admission is free. Call (501) 279-4343.
Royal honors
Benton's Royal Players will honor performers, directors and participants from its 2008-09 season at its first Royal Theatre Awards Gala, 7 p.m. Saturday at Silver Springs Country Club, 6304 Trace Creek Road, Benton.
Tickets are $25; all proceeds will benefit the Royal Theatre restoration program, "Remember the Royal." Seating is limited. Finger foods and a cash bar will be available, as well as a silent and live auctions and the opportunity to win a 2009 Pontiac G-8 from Everett Buick-Pontiac-GMC. Elvis tribute artist Tony Witt will entertain.
Call (501) 315-5483 (LIVE) - leave a contact number - or visit the Web site, the royalplay ers.com.
Style, Pages 57 on 09/27/2009