Harry Blundell, ACO director of theater, is convinced that it's diversity that gives the Arts Center of the Ozarks its niche in the Northwest Arkansas arts community.
But he doesn't mean diversity in a political sense, as the word is often used now. He means that the arts center invites everyone -- "every age, every kind of person" -- not just to look at the arts but try them.
FYI
Arts Center
of the Ozarks
49th Season
July 10-12 & 16-19 — “The Music Man”
Sept. 12-13 & 19 — “The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley”
Oct. 23-25 & 30-31 — “Spider’s Web”
Dec. 11-13 — “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever”
Feb. 5-7 & 12-13 — “The Whales of August”
March 5-6 — “Go, Dog, Go!”
April 8-10 & 15-16 — “Arsenice & Old Lace”
Season tickets for the mainstage series range from $33 to $72.
INFO — 751-5441
"Why do you think there's an art gallery between the front door and the theater?" he says.
"We've always taken what I call a shotgun approach to exposing people to the arts," Blundell explains. "Since 1978, we've had a gallery that's open six days a week, highlighting local and regional artists. We've had classes in both theater and art that everyone can afford to try. And we've had actors from our community on stage, entertaining our community."
Born in 1966, "the ACO has always had an inclusive, grassroots vibe," he says. "We continue to grow on that level. And we were the inspiration for a lot of the arts scene in Northwest Arkansas."
Of course, the mainstay of the arts center is its mainstage season, launched every year by the summer musical. This year, the American classic "The Music Man" kicks off the season July 10. The rest of the selections follow no formula but are built instead on audience expectations, Blundell says.
"More people want to laugh than to think," he says, "so to me, the best shows make you laugh and think -- a win/win situation. And we want to choose shows that offer something to the actors and the director, along with the audience."
ACO has devoted young fans, so the second installment of the season -- and the first of two Child's Play selections -- will be "The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley," directed by Danny Hobson.
"In choosing the Child's Play shows, we've discovered the kids love stories they know from books or TV, and moms and dads love stories with teachable moments," Blundell says. "Everybody knows Flat Stanley."
Born in the beloved children's book written by Jeff Brown in 1964, Stanley Lambchop is your ordinary, every-day, run-of-the-mill 10-year-old who wants to travel the world and do something amazing. Then, one morning, he wakes up flat.
"Your kids know the story, you know the story, and it's the perfect opportunity to show your family how a book can spring to life when it's presented on stage," a New York critic said of the play. And because ACO expects the show to be so popular, it will have an extended run across two weekends in September.
In October, the arts center will return to another favored genre, murder-mysteries, this one "Spider's Web" by Agatha Christie.
"Critics call it a comic thriller, the first one of Agatha Christie's plays to get that description," Blundell says. "But like all her plays, there's comedy clear through."
In "Spider's Web," Clarissa, a diplomat's young wife who has a wild imagination, discovers a dead body in her house. But will anyone believe her?
December means the return of a holiday classic, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever," and, as Blundell always says, it will be an entirely different play this year with new cast members, including a new mom and dad.
In February, Evan Crawford will direct "The Whales of August," another American classic last seen on the ACO stage in 1994 with Paula Thompson and Midge Kjol in two of the leading roles.
"It's a great story, sweet and poignant, about two older sisters and their independence and co-dependence," Blundell says.
March will bring the return of "Go, Dog, Go," another favorite for children.
And in April, the season wraps up with another American classic, "Arsenic and Old Lace," best known for the 1944 film starring Cary Grant, Raymond Massey and Peter Lorre. As the story goes, spinster sisters Martha and Abby Brewster have many gentleman callers -- most of whom end up buried in the basement by a brother who thinks he is Teddy Roosevelt burying the victims of yellow fever. Their unsuspecting nephew deals the best he can with all this insanity -- from elderberry wine, to murder, to family crazies and criminals, to play-writing policemen, plus love and marriage.
"What can I say? You put four or five crazy people in a room, and it has to be fun," Blundell says with a laugh.
NAN What's Up on 06/26/2015