{"id":2409300,"date":"2026-05-09T18:10:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-09T18:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2409300"},"modified":"2026-05-09T18:10:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T18:10:11","slug":"entertainment-jazz-concert-aids-foundation-gatsby-opens-ballet-season-the-arkansas-democrat-gazette","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/entertainment-jazz-concert-aids-foundation-gatsby-opens-ballet-season-the-arkansas-democrat-gazette\/","title":{"rendered":"ENTERTAINMENT: Jazz concert aids foundation; \u2018Gatsby\u2019 opens ballet season | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"zephr-arkonline\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p>                <!-- Audio Player Container --><\/p>\n<div id=\"audioPlayer\" style=\"display: none;\"><figcaption class=\"player-label\">Let us read it for you. Listen now.<\/figcaption><audio id=\"audio\" controls=\"\" controlslist=\"nodownload\" oncontextmenu=\"return false;\"><br \/>\n                Your browser does not support the audio element.<br \/>\n            <\/audio>\n        <\/div>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong><u>MUSIC<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Lupus Jazz Concert<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Saxophonist Merlon Devine headlines the Lupus Jazz Concert, benefiting Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc., 4-6 p.m. May 17 at the Space With Grace Venue, 2005 Main St., North Little Rock. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $40. The fundraiser supports the foundation\u2019s efforts \u201cto spread lupus awareness, advocate for lupus warriors and raise research dollars to find a cure for lupus.\u201d Visit <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/lupus4arkansas.com\">lupus4arkansas.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"intext-photo inline inline_photo\" id=\"4415882\">\n<div class=\"fr-img-space-wrap\"><span class=\"fr-img-caption article-photo fr-fic fr-dii\" style=\"width: 564px;\"><span class=\"fr-img-wrap\"><span class=\"fr-inner\"><figcaption>Jazz saxophonist Merlon Devine, who performed at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center in Little Rock in August 2022, headlines the Lupus Jazz Concert, benefiting Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc., May 17 at the Space With Grace Venue on North Little Rock&#8217;s Main Street. (Democrat-Gazette file photo\/Helaine R. Williams)<\/figcaption><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"fr-img-space-wrap2\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"overlay\"><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong><u>ART<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Craft in Common\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is putting tickets \u2014 $40, $32 for museum members \u2014 on sale for\u00a0\u201cCraft in Common,\u201d\u00a0which a news release bills as \u201ca one-day program exploring collecting, connoisseurship and one of today\u2019s most transformative art forms: craft,\u201d 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 29 at the museum, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock.<\/p>\n<p>Artist, collector and arts advocate Robyn Horn and Stefanie Kirkland, the Windgate Foundation\u2019s curator of contemporary craft, will discuss what it means to collect craft for a session titled \u201cCollecting That Matters.\u201d It will draw on \u201cMaterial Nature: John and Robyn Horn Collection,\u201d an exhibition examining how artists are transforming traditional materials into contemporary art.<\/p>\n<p>Following will be a screening of E. Vincent Martinez\u2019 documentary \u201cIron Pearls,\u201d titled in reference to blacksmith Elizabeth Brim\u2019s signature habit of wearing a string of pearls while working at the forge. Brim, ironwork instructor at the Penland School of Craft in Bakersville, N.C., and Andy Moon, director of the museum\u2019s Windgate Art School, will discuss Brim\u2019s work and creative process in a career field long dominated by men.<\/p>\n<p>The daylong event will also include hands-on studio demonstrations in ceramics, wood, glass, metals and other disciplines in the Windgate Art School.<\/p>\n<p>Visit <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/arkmfa.org\">arkmfa.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong><u>DANCE<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Ballet Arkansas season<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ballet Arkansas will open its 2026-27 season with the world premiere of \u201cThe Great Gatsby,\u201d Oct. 23-25 at a venue to be announced.<\/p>\n<p>Set on a jazz score, it\u2019s a full realization of a ballet the company first staged in 2021, with \u201cimmersive theatrical elements,\u201d according to a news release.<\/p>\n<p>The rest of the lineup:<\/p>\n<p>\u25fc\ufe0f Dec. 11-13: \u201cThe Nutcracker Spectacular,\u201d Peter Iliich Tchaikovsky\u2019s ballet with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra in the pit at Little Rock\u2019s Robinson Center Performance Hall, with updated first-act costuming and choreography.<\/p>\n<p>\u25fc\ufe0f Feb. 19-21: Tchaikovsky\u2019s \u201cThe Sleeping Beauty\u201d in what the company is billing as a \u201cworld premiere production\u201d at Robinson.<\/p>\n<p>\u25fc\ufe0f April 15-16: \u201cre:MIX\u201d at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, blending contemporary innovation with classical influence in \u201ca curated series of works that pair symphonic music with electronic soundscapes \u2014 a first-of-its-kind experience for Ballet Arkansas audiences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u25fc\ufe0f April 17-18: The Arkansas premiere of Ludwig Minkus\u2019 \u201cDon Quixote,\u201d also at AMFA.<\/p>\n<p>The company is also starting a new, in-studio series it\u2019s calling \u201cSPOTLIGHT,\u201d that will feature \u201cartistic talkbacks, behind-the-scenes previews and exclusive special events.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The company will reveal details on gala events, guest collaborators, musicians, choreographers, community-cast auditions, student matinee performances and SPOTLIGHT programming on June 15, and full production details, collaborators, guest artists, musicians, and choreographers for its main stage productions will be announced July 1, when tickets officially go on sale. Visit <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/balletarkansas.org\/tickets\">balletarkansas.org\/tickets<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"intext-photo inline inline_photo\" id=\"4415884\">\n<div class=\"fr-img-space-wrap\"><span class=\"fr-img-caption article-photo fr-fic fr-dii\" style=\"width: 564px;\"><span class=\"fr-img-wrap\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Actor, comedian, podcaster and entrepreneur Desi Banks brings his \u201dYour Favorite Cousin\u201d tour to Little Rock's Robinson Center Performance Hall on Nov. 21.&#13;&#10;(Special to the Democrat-Gazette\/Kivenchy Photography)\" class=\"article-photo fr-fic fr-dii\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/wehco.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com\/img\/photos\/2026\/05\/08\/Kivenchy_Desi-Banks59879_t800.jpg?90232451fbcadccc64a17de7521d859a8f88077d\" width=\"800\"\/><span class=\"fr-inner\"><figcaption>Actor, comedian, podcaster and entrepreneur Desi Banks brings his \u201dYour Favorite Cousin\u201d tour to Little Rock&#8217;s Robinson Center Performance Hall on Nov. 21.&#13;<br \/>\n(Special to the Democrat-Gazette\/Kivenchy Photography)<\/figcaption><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"fr-img-space-wrap2\">\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"overlay\"><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong><u>TICKETS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>\u2018Your Favorite Cousin\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Actor, comedian, podcaster and entrepreneur Desi Banks brings his \u201cYour Favorite Cousin\u201d tour to Little Rock, 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at Robinson Center Performance Hall, 426 W. Markham St., Little Rock. Tickets \u2014 $49.85-$127.45 \u2014 are on sale; call (501) 244-8800 or visit Ticketmaster.com.<\/p>\n<p>        <!--Author Byline Cards--><\/p>\n<div class=\"byline-card\">\n<div class=\"byline-text\">\n<h3 class=\"author\">\n<p>                        <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arkansasonline.com\/staff\/eric-harrison\">Eric E. Harrison<\/a><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"author-email\"><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"staffer__email\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arkansasonline.com\/news\/2026\/may\/09\/entertainment-jazz-concert-aids-foundation-gatsby-opens-ballet-season\/mailto:eharrison@adgnewsroom.com\">eharrison@adgnewsroom.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Eric E. Harrison covers classical music, theater and restaurants for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He joined the then-Arkansas Democrat on the copy desk in June 1977 and served for 17 years (including the entirety of the newspaper war) as the paper&#8217;s entertainment editor before taking on his current role as features reporter. He is also host of the weekly classical music show &#8220;Major and Minor Masterpieces&#8221; on public radio station KLRE-FM, 90.5.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.arkansasonline.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Let us read it for you. Listen now. Your browser does not support the audio element. MUSIC Lupus Jazz Concert Saxophonist Merlon Devine headlines the Lupus Jazz Concert, benefiting Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc., 4-6 p.m. May 17 at the Space With Grace Venue, 2005 Main St., North Little Rock. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2409301,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2409300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ENTERTAINMENT-Jazz-concert-aids-foundation-\u2018Gatsby-opens-ballet-season.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2409300","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2409300"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2409300\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2409302,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2409300\/revisions\/2409302"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2409301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2409300"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2409300"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2409300"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}