The forecast is all sunshine and rainbows as the Arkansas Repertory Theatre prepares for its signature Ovation! Gala in May. And in true theatrical fashion, this year’s theme of “Let the Sun Shine In” hails from its upcoming July production of “Hair.”
“It’s about showing us your sunshine, but it’s also celebrating a happy time for us right now,” executive director Will Trice says. “We’ve got a new artistic director, we’ve switched to the summer season model that is going well and we’re just really excited about the future.”
Steve H. Broadnax III, the newly minted artistic director, is already adding brightness to The Rep.
“He is no stranger to The Rep or this community,” Trice says. “He’s from here originally and has performed here multiple times. But in this leadership and creative capacity, he just brings a certain energy and a broader vision to the shows we do.”
In fact, the summer series will kick off May 27 with the world premiere of Broadnax’s original play “Me and the Devil,” a fable inspired by blues musician Robert Johnson.
Tim Gauger, board member and co-chair of Ovation!, says Little Rock is fortunate to have such big names right in its backyard.
“From Will Trice to [producing director] Ken-Matt Martin to Steve Broadnax III — to have that collection of talent in a market the size of Little Rock is really an extraordinary thing,” Gauger says. “They all credit The Rep as part of their development and as what inspired them to go on to have these amazing careers in theater.”
Their experiences on Broadway and in various regional theaters allow the directors to keep a pulse on the theater world and bring current trends back home to The Rep’s own programming.
“Part of our programming mission is selecting a variety of shows from different genres and styles to represent what’s going on in the art form as a whole,” Trice says. “The shows are selected based on what we think will be particularly resonant for people here, but more importantly, you’re seeing something fresh and immediate in our intimate space.”
For Ovation! co-chair Stacy Sells, theater has been a part of life from her earliest memories.
“My parents actually met in a play,” Sells says. “They were cast opposite each other as lovers in a community production and were married six months later.”
She is especially ready for “Hair” this summer, having learned all the lyrics by age 9 at her aunt’s home. Her family even passed the theater love to Stacy’s own children and made attending a show together every Christmas a yearly tradition.
Gauger jokes that he enjoys the theater experience behind the scenes, though he did have a walk-on role in “Footloose” as a tambourine-toting cowboy.
“I was asked to join the board six years ago, and you get a totally different perspective of what it’s like to operate a professional theater in a market of this size and how many things have to go right,” Gauger says.
According to Gauger and Trice, financial accessibility is a priority of The Rep. To keep ticket prices low, the theater relies on funds from corporate sponsors, community members and foundations to cover most operating expenses.
“The Rep will remain as long as the community supports it and finds it worthwhile,” Gauger says. “Support from hardcore theater lovers down to people who just appreciate that The Rep exists ensures this unique form of art is available for the next generation of people to enjoy.”
Ovation! is crucial in kickstarting the season’s fundraising efforts. Hosting the event at The Rep creates a multi-level experience for guests, who will start with specialty cocktails on the ground floor and work their way up to other levels for dinner and entertainment from Broadway’s and Arkansas’ finest artists.
“There’s always a lot going on at once, and it’s all fun and enjoyable,” Sells says. “You can go to some galas and they’re a little serious or formal, and Ovation! is serious about raising money, but the rest is always whimsical.”
The gala is also a time to honor hometown theater professionals for their contributions to the arts. One of the evening’s honorees, Carolyn Foreman, is a choral director and retired Little Rock School District educator.
“A lot of us here had her as a teacher or knew of her [through the arts],” Trice says. “She’s also been big in music ministry, so many know her through church activities as well.”
“I am humbled to be selected as an Ovation! honoree,” Foreman says. “The Rep has been an integral part of the music program at Parkview Arts & Science Magnet School, and I hope that my former students who are now choral directors will continue to expose their students to the many opportunities the theater offers.”
Fellow honoree Ashlie Atkinson, a character actress known for her work in “The Gilded Age” and “BlacKkKlansman,” got her first professional theater job at The Rep as a prop assistant 25 years ago.
“I am so honored to be coming back for Ovation! to celebrate The Rep’s longevity and continued relevance in these uncertain times,” Atkinson says. “We need community and storytelling more than ever. We need the Arkansas Rep.”
And theater is a truly communal experience, one shared with fellow showgoers and performers alike, creating a unique bond that exists solely within those walls and is only possible through the combined efforts of so many.
Further proof of that communal spark, Sells says, is that the gala’s most coveted prize is a chance to have dinner with friends at The Rep and access to the costume closet. They upped the number of friends for this year’s prize because of its rave reviews last year.
“Theater can be very serious, it can be heavy, it can be thoughtful,” Sells says. “But on Ovation! night, there’s music and dancing involved, and that’s what makes it a memorable evening.”
In a world where screens and streaming can be isolating and unmemorable, Trice says theater will always offer the fellowship the world needs.
“Theater brings us together as neighbors and families, and those are memories you are making for life,” Trice says. “You’ll remember that evening you had out with your family and friends and the show you saw here. There’s a reason why you remember those things. It’s because they have so much more of an impact, and they make life more interesting and special.”
Leading Ladies
From loyal theatergoers to tireless fundraisers, it takes a myriad of supporters to keep The Rep shining. Meet some of the women who help make it happen.
Maya Goree, board vice chair
“At last year’s Ovation! Gala, executive director Will Trice and producing director Ken-Matt Martin performed a rendition of ‘Money Makes the World Go ‘Round,’ and it was one of the best things I saw on stage in 2024. Their performance exemplified the magic that can only be created in live theater. Thinking about it still takes my breath away!”
Elizabeth Small, former co-chair of Saints & Sinners and production co-sponsor
“Rep shows make me laugh until I cry or sob in the lobby because of the moving subject matter. ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,’ ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ and ‘Next to Normal’ were my favorite productions. Live performances evoke emotions I rarely feel in a cinema, and I get to count the number of lights hanging at every production.”
Molly McNulty, board member, Stage Door Social member
“Each show I’ve seen at The Rep over the many years has resonated in some form or fashion with me, bringing smiles and tears, laughter and times of reflection, but what stands out to me most is the resilience of The Rep. It mirrors the human spirit, and I’m grateful to have witnessed it.”
Sarah Hastings Mathews, board member, fundraising committee member
“My first experience was watching ‘Steel Magnolias’ as a very young adult. I laughed. I cried. I grieved. I celebrated. It was everything that live theater should be and is at The Rep. I have been in love with this organization ever since.”
Stacy Sells, Ovation! co-chair, “Save The Rep” campaign member
“I remember my parents taking me to The Rep as a teen when under the leadership of founder Cliff Fannin Baker. As a mother, December was always a favorite as my daughters looked forward to the holiday show, as did my parents and nieces. But one of my favorite shows was my friend Lawrence Hamilton starring in the one-man show ‘Looking Over the President’s Shoulder’ based on the real-life story of Eugene Allen, the longtime White House butler. Lawrence gave a brilliant performance of a much-loved story.”
Melanie A. Hillard, board secretary
“I remember attending the play ‘Crowns’ at The Rep in the early 2000s, which left a lasting impression on me. Growing up in the Black church, I saw how beautifully adorned hats were prominent every Sunday. The play showcased the fashion and history of these hats, each telling a story from joy to sorrow and struggle to triumph. The phrase, ‘You don’t just wear a hat, you wear a crown,’ struck me, along with the rich gospel music that engaged the audience and forged a communal experience.”
2025 SummerStage Season
“Me and the Devil”
May 27 – June 8
“God of Carnage”
June 17-29
“Hair”
July 8-27
“The Amen Corner”
Aug. 5-17
“The Glass Menagerie”
Sept. 2-14
Ovation!
Benefiting the Arkansas Repertory Theatre
May 3, 6 p.m. | The Rep
Info: therep.org/ovation
PHOTOGRAPHY
JASON MASTERS
SHOT ON LOCATION AT
THE ARKANSAS REPERTORY THEATRE
CLOTHING
BARBARA/JEAN