One might wonder if Jennifer Ross just likes keeping secrets. But then again, "Christmas" doesn't come until November at the Walton Arts Center.
That's when the newly renovated and improved facility will open for its silver anniversary season at the corner of Dickson Street and West Avenue. But with more than three months to wait, Ross, the WAC's director of programs, is portioning out presents like a mom keeping persistent children placated.
FYI
Walton Arts Center
2016-17 Series
Procter & Gamble Broadway Series
• “The Book of Mormon,” Dec. 13-18
• “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder,” Jan. 10-15
• Circus Oz, Feb. 15-19
• “Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story On Stage,” March 8-12
• “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” April 18-23
• “Motown The Musical,” June 27-July 2
Popcorn, Indiana American Music Series
• An Evening with Chris Botti, Dec. 2
• Art Garfunkel: In Close-Up, Dec. 9
• Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Feb. 4
• An Evening with Buddy Guy, March 14
• Naturally 7, March 31
Coca-Cola Night Out Series
• Classic Albums Live: Led Zeppelin II, Jan. 27
• Taj Express: The Bollywood Musical Revue, April 4
• “Greater Tuna,” April 30
• MOMIX: Opus Cactus, May 7
• Garrison Keillor, May 25
10x10 Arts Series
• Dover Quartet with Avi Avital, Dec. 6
• La Compagnie Hervé: KOUBI, Feb. 2
• Third Coast Percussion, Feb. 24
• BODYTRAFFIC, March 2
• Edward Simon & Afinidad with Imani Winds, March 18
• Janoska Ensemble, March 28
• Sierra Hull, April 7
• NIYAZ, April 13
• Manual Cinema’s “Lula del Ray,” May 4
• Artosphere Festival Orchestra with Corrado Rovaris, May 17
Kimberly-Clark Family Fun Series
• Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” Nov. 25-27
• “The Snowman,” a family concert presented by Walton Arts Center and Symphony of Northwest Arkansas, Dec. 4
• “The Hip Hop Nutcracker,” Dec. 22
• Still on the Hill: Still A River, Feb. 3
• Think Outside the Drum: An Interactive Family Concert Event with Third Coast Percussion, Feb. 23
• Mnozil Brass, April 5
Kids Series
• Lightwire Theater’s “A Very Electric Christmas,” Dec. 23
• Barnstorm Theatre Company’s “The Bockety World of Henry & Bucket,” Feb. 18
• “Wild Kratts Live!,” Feb. 26
• Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia’s “Brown Bear, Brown Bear and other Treasured Stories by Eric Carle,” March 5
• Windmill Theatre’s “Grug & The Rainbow,” April 8
• Oran Etkin’s “Timbalooloo,” April 27
• Patch Theatre Company’s “The Moon’s a Balloon,” April 28
Additional Events
• Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man, Jan. 26-28
• VoiceJam Competition, April 1
• Compagnia TPO’s “Painted Gardens,” May 6
• Teater Refleksion’s “The Way Back Home,” May 14
• Artosphere Festival Orchestra Finale Concert with Corrado Rovaris, May 20
• “The Man Who Planted Trees” presented by Puppet State Theatre Company, May 20
• Art of Wine Festival, June 8-10
INFO — 443-5600 or waltonartscenter.org
The announcement of the Broadway season -- in early March -- whetted appetites for "The Book of Mormon," "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder," "Circus Oz: Straight Up," "Dirty Dancing," "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" and "Motown the Musical."
"From a Broadway perspective, I'm really looking forward to seeing our community's response to 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,'" Ross says. "It's a brilliant play. I saw it in New York, and I can't wait to see it on our stage. And we're hoping do a community read of the book. It's important information. And just a wonderful play."
In June came the news of the brand new Walton Arts Center West Street Live series presented by Neal Pendergraft, thanks to a grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation: Elizabeth Cook on Nov. 20, Kathy Mattea on Dec. 1, A.J. Croce: Two Generations on Jan. 12, An Evening with Amy Helm on March 4 and Marcia Ball on April 20.
The series, which Ross co-curated with Brian Crowne, "uses Starr Theater like I have always wanted us to use it -- for different genres of music," she says. "We've used it for jazz a lot in the past, and a couple of times, we've tried it with roots-type bands, bluegrass bands. But we've never gone gung ho with a series. I really can't wait to see that music, in that space, with 249 of my friends."
Last weekend, another gift was unwrapped in the form of the CYO -- Create Your Own -- subscriptions, now on sale. According to WAC spokeswoman Erin Rogers, CYO benefits include:
• Early access to the 2016-17 season before single tickets go on sale to the general public.
• Early access to new shows added throughout the year.
• Discounts on most shows, including Broadway.
As Rogers and Ross explain it, "the more you buy, the more you save." Purchase three shows and get $2 off each ticket; five shows and get $3 off each ticket; or seven shows and get $5 off each ticket.
"Or choose more," Ross says with a laugh. "We're good with that."
"What's fun about the discount," Rogers adds, is that subscribers may add shows later in the year for the same discounted price.
She cautions not all shows are eligible for discount. Call 443-5600 or visit waltonartscenter.org to order.
NAN What's Up on 07/22/2016