Elsewhere in entertainment, events and the arts:
'Letters to Kamala'
Shannon Lamb, an Arkansas native and a 1995 graduate of Oak Grove High School, plays Charlotta Bass, the first Black female candidate for vice president, in WAM Theatre's reading of "Letters to Kamala" by Rachel Lynett, streaming through Sunday via the theater's website (wamtheatre.com/showsandevents/kamala). In Lynett's play, three trailblazing female political leaders — the others are Charlene Mitchell (Torie Wiggins), the first Black woman to run for president, and Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink (Lilli Hokama), the first woman of color to be elected to the House of Representatives and the first Asian-American to run for president — sharing "their wisdom, perspective, and wry humor" with vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris. The three actresses will be holding scripts. Tickets are $15, $25 and $50. There will be a Zoom talkback with the performers at 7 p.m. Thursday. Call (413) 274-8122 or email [email protected].
'In the Atrium'
Pianists Asher Armstrong and Claudia Burson will play "Brahms to Brubeck — An Evening of Piano Greats," 7 p.m. Saturday for an "In the Atrium" performance in Walker Atrium at Fayetteville's Walton Arts Center, 495 W. Dickson St. Admission is free; reservations are encouraged for socially distanced tables for parties of up to six. Call (479) 433-5600 or visit waltonartscenter.org.
The "In the Atrium" lineup through April 3 (7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday):
- ◼️ Sunday: SoNA Voices: Heartwarming Notes with Miho & Tomoko
- ◼️ March 25: Soul Classics with Jeron Marshall
- ◼️ March 26: Language of Soul — Classical Dances of India
- ◼️ March 27: Austin Farnam Quartet (jazz)
- ◼️ March 28: Devanee Williams, harp, and Michael Puryear, cello
- ◼️ April 1: "Comedy in the Atrium," featuring Raj Suresh, Shawna Blake, John Michael Cronin and JJ Molinaro
- ◼️ April 2: A Carnatic Journey — Indian Classical Music featuring Santhoush Ramaswamy and Kartik Balachandran
- ◼️ April 3: Alisha Pattillo Quartet (jazz)
Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Patrons should enter through the Dickson Street doors. Performances will last 75-90 minutes with no intermission. Beer, wine, soft drinks and packaged snacks will be available for cashless purchase before and during the performance.
'Arkansas Made'
Historic Arkansas Museum is releasing the second edition of its two-volume "Arkansas Made: A Survey of the Decorative, Mechanical, and Fine Arts Produced in Arkansas Through 1950." The books are the culmination of the museum's four-decade survey of cabinetmakers, silversmiths, potters, fine artists, quilters and other Arkansas artisans. The books are for sale through the Museum Store and the publisher, the University of Arkansas Press. Visit historicarkansas.org.
Museum grants
Arkansas Heritage, a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, is accepting grant applications through April 29 for its Small Museum Grants Program, which funds projects for up to $2,500 for Arkansas history museums, historical societies, historic houses and sites and military museums.
Eligible organizations must have an annual operating budget of $250,000 or less; a staff of at least one person, paid or volunteer; and be open to the public at least 90 days per year. Grants cover buildings and grounds maintenance, operating costs/utilities, equipment purchases up to $1,000, accessioning of artifact collections, conservation resources, exhibits and website design.
For more information or to apply online, visit arkansasheritage.com and click on "Grants"; call (501) 324-9150; or email [email protected].
Award-winners
Two Arkansans are among the 42 high school speech, debate, theater and music teachers and coaches that the National Federation of State High School Associations is honoring for 2021. Julie Rine, drama and forensics teacher at Grimsley Junior High School in Centerton, is one of 20 winners of the group's Outstanding Speech/Debate/Theatre Educator Awards. Peggy Jeffries, band director at Nettleton High School in Jonesboro, is one of 22 receiving Outstanding Music Educator Awards. Visit nfhs.org.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this column contained incorrect contact information for WAM Theatre’s reading of “Letters to Kamala” by Rachel Lynett.