It's A State Of Mind

What is a Gowrow?

That's a pretty good question. According to Arkansas folklore, the Gowrow a great creature covered in scales, with long claws and a bladed tail. First discovered by Little Rock businessman William Miller in 1897, the Gowrow's name come from the frightening noise the beast makes during its nightly plundering, which has terrified Ozark natives since that time.

As far as anyone knows, the true Gowrow is kind of like a Sasquatch, a legend that has spawned some local epics. Folklore collector Vance Randolph believed the Gowrow wasn't a singular creature, but a whole species hatched from soft-shelled eggs the size of beer kegs.

Accounts vary, but a few select people, and animals, know the true nature of this beast. Shannon Wurst knows the secret of this creature, but she's not telling.

"I know all about the Gowrow, but you'll have to come to the show to find out more," she teases. Wurst performs both sing-alongs and as the character Bear in "Bear State of Mind," an educational program centering on the history and geography of Arkansas for children in kindergarten through second grade.

The play is a new show developed for children through a partnership between the Walton Arts Center and Trike Theater. It's aimed at teaching Northwest Arkansas children through experiential theater, music and puppetry, says Wurst.

"We started on this about three and a half years ago," she says. "The concept was to let kids know about our great state and all of the wonderful geographical parts of Arkansas through an overarching story. It's been a great production to work on."

Wurst was brought into the production to create the music for the show, she says. "The goal for me in writing the music was for it to be memorable and to move the story forward," she says. "But it is also to teach and get the kids involved in the story. I go back and forth as Bear and playing music. It's part of the storytelling."

Wurst is joined onstage by playwright Julie Gabel and Trike Theater's Jason Suel, while children sit around a magical campfire. The play opens with Bear, a young, Arkansan bear who has lost his family and is alone in the woods.

By luck, Bear comes across Owl, who is also having a pretty rough day. Owl is certain that the devilish Gowrow has stolen his glasses and is setting out to find him. Because bears have excellent eye sight, and owls have great hearing, the two pair up to find what they're looking for, but although they are great friends, it doesn't necessarily go well, says Suel.

"They get really angry with each other at one point," says the Arkansas native. "But they work through their conflict. Part of the purpose of the show is to show kids that we all have problems, but through cooperation and teamwork, we can work through it."

The audience also gets a glimpse into what makes Arkansas so special, Suel says. Bear is chased by a honeybee, which is the Arkansas state insect. The play also features a white-tailed deer and pine tree, both official symbols of the state.

"We used the Common Core [standards] as a springboard for this show," he says. "What started about four years ago in schools has gone through a lot of reinventions. The kids become more involved in the show."

"We want these kids to see that there's a lot of different parts of Arkansas, not just Northwest Arkansas," says Wurst. "This is a glimpse of what our state has to offer. I just want them to experience something with us, to go on an adventure.

"And maybe we'll find the Gowrow."