Spring is almost here, and to celebrate the blossoming season, we’re spotlighting some prime, must-attend, live events in Little Rock.
With many dance, music and theater happenings in the queue already, there will be performing arts acts for everyone to enjoy this season. Go ahead and clear your calendar because it’s going to be a busy springtime in the metro.
Here’s what’s on the lineup this spring:
Ballet Arkansas
Continuing its 45th anniversary season in grand style, Ballet Arkansas will perform “Bravo” May 2-5 at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts. This union of contemporary dance and live classical music is a celebration of the arts and creativity. Live music will be performed by world-renowned pianist Fei-Fei Dong making this an unforgettable experience.
“Snow White,” part of the BA Children’s Series, will be performed at UA-PTC CHARTS May 11-12. This interactive production promises a magical time with guided activities, multimedia projections, storytelling and singalongs. The classic heartwarming story is perfect for children and the entire family.
For more information on Ballet Arkansas performances and to buy tickets, click here.
The Studio Theatre
The Studio Theatre will be showcasing four exciting performances this spring for its 10th season featuring classic rock music, a Tony Award nominee and more. Mark your calendar for these upcoming dates and shows:
- March 19-30: “Choir Boy”
- April 18 – May 5: “Rock of Ages”
- May 9-12: “Equilibrium”
- June 6-23: “Once on This Island: The Musical”
For more information on The Studio Theatre performances and to buy tickets, click here.
Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
This spring, the ASO is performing a wide variety of genres and experiences that everyone will enjoy, including the first-ever singing competition Arkansas Talent and a live performance accompanying the iconic film “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Here’s a quick look at the performances you can find this season:
- March 14: Neighborhood Concert
- April 6-7: Holst’s “The Planets” – The Solar Eclipse Concert
- April 16: River Rhapsodies V
- April 20: “Harry Potter and Sorcerer’s Stone” in Concert
- April 27: Youth Ensembles Spring Concert
- May 4-5: Brahms’ “Symphony No. 4”
- May 7: River Rhapsodies VI
- May 11-12: Arkansas Talent
For more information on ASO performances and to purchase tickets, click here.
The Weekend Theater
“Call Me Mara,” an original work by local playwright Phillip H. McMath, will be showing at The Weekend Theater through March 17. The show is set in early 1942 just after the U.S. entered World War II and explores the story of two families connected from a blind date who are both doing their part in fighting the war.
Next up is “American Beauty.” This entertaining musical follows seven women and their hopes of winning the Miss Delta Queen Beauty Pageant. With an array of secondary characters, a talent competition and the big coronation moment, “American Beauty” takes you through a medley of serious and satiric monologues and scenes. Catch a show April 19 – May 5.
Wrapping up season 31 at TWT is “She Kills Monsters.” Showing June 7-23, this performance takes you on a comedic journey through the world of fantasy role-playing games. It features homicidal fairies, nasty ogres and ’90s pop culture through a heart-pounding homage to the geek and warrior in all of us.
For more information on The Weekend Theater performances and to purchase tickets, click here.
Robinson Center
Experience a candlelight concert and the magic of a live multi-sensory musical journey on March 16 at the Robinson Center in “Candlelight: A Tribute to Adele.” The program will feature Adele’s top hits performed by the Listeso String Quartet under the gentle and calming glow of candlelight.
Celebrity Attractions is bringing the Broadway performance “Shrek: The Musical” to the Robinson Center on March 27-28. Everyone’s favorite green ogre, wisecracking donkey and feisty princess will take the stage in this funny spectacle about the tale of an unlikely hero and his life-changing journey.
Bring the little ones to the Robinson Center on April 9 for a journey under the sea at “Baby Shark’s Big Broadwave Tour.” Baby Shark and his fishy friends will take you on a fun adventure to save their Party Puddle Theatre with catchy music, loveable characters and lots of laughter.
On April 23, “Shen Yun” will return to Little Rock once again with a captivating performance of classical Chinese dance. With innovative multimedia effects and original orchestral works, the show will take you on an enlightening journey through the arts.
“Pretty Woman: The Musical” takes the stage on April 26-28. Based on one of Hollywood’s most iconic romance stories, this musical springs to life with the help of an incredible creative team led by two-time Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Jerry Mitchell.
For more information on performances at the Robinson Center and to buy tickets, click here.
Actors Theatre of Little Rock
This year marks the second season of programming for the Actors Theatre of Little Rock. This spring, “Spring Awakening” will be shown March 6-23 wherein angsty rock music is used to explore the trials and tribulations of adolescence, sexuality and morality.
William Shakespeare’s classic story “Romeo & Juliet” will take place April 10-20. This take on the tragic love story has a new twist and features a cast made up of entirely female actors.
“26 Pebbles,” a docudrama exploring the effect of gun violence, is a performance inspired by interviews from families from Newtown, Connecticut, after the events of the Sandy Hook shooting. Catch the performance May 29 – June 8.
For more information on performances at the Actors Theatre of Little Rock and to buy tickets, click here.
Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Year two for the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts will be nothing short of memorable. For families and younger audiences, “Dragons Love Tacos” will be shown through March 23. Performed by AMFA’s Children’s Theatre Company, this production is based on the beloved colorful children’s book by Adam Rubin.
Also for the kids, “Poli Pop” will take the AMFA stage April 13-14. This show is a captivating performance for audiences of all ages and is a follow-up production to the internationally acclaimed show “Doodle Pop.” Follow along with playful siblings Poli and Pola as they go on adventures to faraway islands rather than go to sleep.
For the grown-ups, join AMFA for its Artist Talk series featuring conversations with featured artists. Here, artists are invited to demonstrate the importance of their voices and work while highlighting the diversity in their artistic backgrounds, media and concepts. Don’t miss these upcoming events:
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April 5: Storytelling: Native Americans and the Eclipse
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April 17: Artist Talk: Risa Hricovsky
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April 20: Artist Demonstration with Risa Hricovsky
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May 9: Artist Talk: Natasha Bowdoin
On April 27, a special performance of traditional choreography and modern movement will combine to create a unique art form during a contemporary Native American dance performance. Innovative dancers from across the country will join together to perform a creative artistic program to complement the exhibition “Action/Abstraction Redefined: Modern Native Art, 1940s to 1970s.”
Plus, check out the museum’s live concert series featuring jazz, soul, R&B, indie folk, Americana music and more this spring. Sunny War will take the stage March 28, followed by The Brother Brothers on April 18.
For more information on AMFA performances and to secure tickets, click here.
Murry’s Dinner Playhouse
Enjoy dinner and a show this spring at Murry’s. From March 14-16, watch Travis Ledoyt become “The World’s Best Young Elvis” as he perfectly captures the sound, appearance and essence of Elvis in the ’50s and ’60s.
The musical “Grumpy Old Men” will take place from March 20 – April 27. The classic story based on the 1993 film follows the feud between grumpy neighbors Max and John as they face off as romantic rivals through their shared affection for their new neighbor.
May 1-25, “The Importance of Being Earnest” will take the stage at Murry’s. Sit back and relax as you follow two charming bachelors and their double lives in this classic comedy.
“Smoke on the Mountain,” a hilarious story of a Saturday night gospel singing at a country church in North Carolina in 1938 will be shown May 29 – June 29. The show features two dozen bluegrass songs played and sung by the Sanders family.
For more information on Murry’s Dinner Playhouse performances and to buy tickets, click here.
Argenta Contemporary Theatre
Its first production under its new name, Argenta Contemporary Theatre will present a night of music and performances featuring Michael Rice. “Michael Rice: A Homecoming” will take place on Sunday, March 17, with performances at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. featuring Bob Bidewell, Jean Cantrell, Karen Q. Clark and more. Proceeds from the concert benefit the ACT Education Program.
From April 17-27, ACT will be showing “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.” The performance takes you back to where it all began before Carole King, or Carole Klein, wrote for the biggest acts in music and became successful with her studio album “Tapestry.”
For more information on Argenta Contemporary Theatre performances and to buy tickets, click here.
Arkansas Chamber Singers
The Arkansas Chamber Singers will perform “Songs of Destiny” as the group’s spring concert. With the main work of Johannes Brahm’s “Schicksalslied,” the program will also include works by Herbert Howells, Howard Goodall, Eric Whitacre and more. Two performances will take place on April 26 at 7:30 p.m. and April 28 at 3 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock.
For more information on performances by the Arkansas Chamber Singers and to buy tickets, click here.
River City Men’s Chorus
The River City Men’s Chorus will present “Connections” as the group’s 2024 spring concert performance. All River City Men’s Chorus concerts are free and open to the public. Spring performance dates will take place on April 14 at 3 p.m., April 15 at 7 p.m. and April 18 at 7 p.m. at St. James United Methodist Church.
For more information on performances by the River City Men’s Chorus and to buy tickets, click here.
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Little Rock Wind Symphony
The Little Rock Wind Symphony will host three performances this spring. The first is “Chautauqua: Music of the Winds,” which takes place at UA-PTC CHARTS on March 14 at 7:30 p.m. The second is “Gershwin, Porgy, and More” and it will take place at the Second Presbyterian Church of Little Rock on April 25 at 7:30 p.m. Little Rock Winds’ third and final performance of the season is the annual “A Star Spangled Salute!,” which will take place at MacArthur Park on June 9 at 7 p.m.
For more information on performances by the Little Rock Wind Symphony and to secure tickets, click here.
Arkansas Choral Society
The Arkansas Choral Society will be performing four sacred pieces for its 2024 spring concert. One will be a missa brevis by Franz Schubert, and the other three will be short works by Mozart. They will share performance dates closer to showtime, so be sure to follow them on Facebook to stay in the know. For more information, visit their website.
In addition to all of the fall performances and events happening in the metro, there are many great galleries to explore and immerse yourself in. Find it all in our comprehensive guide to Little Rock art galleries and public art.