Leah Fimple playing Jo March.

The University of Central Arkansas Theatre Department has announced its upcoming production of a heartfelt and timeless story of family, ambition and resilience. Based on the beloved novel by Louisa May Alcott, this musical adaptation brings the March sisters to life through soaring music and deeply human storytelling.

Performances are scheduled for April 10, 11, 17 and 18 at 7 each night and April 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. at the James M. Bridges Black Box Theatre in the Windgate Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, 2150 Bruce St., Conway.

Audiences will follow Jo March and her sisters Meg, Beth, and Amy as they navigate the challenges of growing up during the Civil War era, each striving to define their own paths while bound together by love and loyalty. With a sweeping score and poignant narrative, “Little Women: The Broadway Musical” celebrates the enduring power of dreams, creativity and sisterhood.

Directed by Assistant Professor Lauren Carlton, with music by Jason Howland, lyrics by Mindi Dickstein and book by Allan Knee, the production showcases the talent and dedication of UCA’s student performers, designers and technicians. This moving theatrical experience highlights both the strength of classic literature and the vibrancy of contemporary musical theatre.

BT����students, faculty and staff can receive free tickets at the door or at the Reynolds Performance Hall or Windgate box offices. General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased online. Tickets may also be purchased at the Reynolds Box Office or Windgate Box Office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by calling BT����Ticket Central at (501) 450-3265 or (866) 810-0012.

Chihiro Nakazaki & Ashleigh Mathews

The University of Central Arkansas’ Theatre Program is proud to present William ���󲹰�����𲹰���’s “Hamlet,” one of the most enduring and powerful works in the English language.

Performance dates are Nov. 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 7 each night, and Nov. 9 and 16 at 2 p.m., at the James M. Bridges Black Box Theatre in the Windgate Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, 2150 Bruce St., Conway.

Directed by Professor Chris Fritzges, this production of “Hamlet” reimagines the classic tale of grief, revenge and moral conflict through a vaudeville-esque lens while remaining true to ���󲹰�����𲹰���’s poetic brilliance. The cast features talented student actors from across the university, bringing depth and vitality to this iconic story of a prince haunted by betrayal and driven by the search for truth.

Audiences can expect a dynamic staging, contemporary design elements and an emotionally charged performance that bridges the gap between Elizabethan drama and today’s world.

BT����students, faculty and staff can receive free tickets at the door or at the Reynolds Performance Hall or Windgate box offices. General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased . Tickets may also be purchased at the Reynolds Box Office or Windgate Box Office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by calling BT����Ticket Central at (501) 450-3265 or (866) 810-0012.

Three Muskateers: Quinn Gasaway, Xander Udochi, Adrian Hinojosa

In its second year of professional theater, the University of Central Arkansas Summer Theatre will open Ken Ludwig’s “The Three Musketeers” on Friday, June 20, in the James M. Bridges Black Box Theatre in the Windgate Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.

Get ready for a family-friendly, action-packed adventure like no other! “The Three Musketeers” is a thrilling, fast-paced adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel by Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig. Join the brave and charismatic D’Artagnan as he teams up with the legendary trio—Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—in a swashbuckling tale of honor, friendship, and daring escapades. Filled with sword fights, romance, and a touch of humor, this vibrant production brings to life the timeless spirit of loyalty and justice. Don’t miss your chance to be swept away by the high-energy spectacle of “The Three Musketeers,”��where all for one and one for all still reign supreme!

Evening performances for the show are June 20, 21, 27 and 28, at 7 p.m. Matinee performances are June 21, 22, 28 and 29, at 2 p.m.

Keiren Minter (left) as Eurydice’s father and Crystal Daniels as Eurydice

The University of Central Arkansas Theatre Department is proud to present Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice, a modern, poetic retelling of the classic Greek myth.

Performance dates are April 11, 12, 18, and 19 at 7 p.m., and April 13 and 20 at 2 p.m., at the James M. Bridges Black Box Theatre in the Windgate Center for the Fine and Performing Arts.

Directed by BT����Assistant Professor of Theatre Lauren Carlton, this production brings a contemporary lens to a timeless story of love, loss, and the complexity of human relationships.

Crystal Daniels as Eurydice

Keiren Minter as Eurydice’s father

BT����students, faculty and staff can receive free tickets at the door or at the Reynolds Performance Hall or Windgate Box Office. General admission tickets are $10 and can be purchased . Tickets may also be purchased at the Reynolds Box Office or Windgate Box Office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by calling BT����Ticket Central by phone at (501) 450-3265 or toll-free at (866) 810-0012.

Patricia Poulter

A space in the Student Success and Veterans Resource Center at the University of Central Arkansas will now be known as the Poulter Commons, named in honor of former provost and executive vice president Patricia Poulter.

A dedication ceremony was held Tuesday, March 18, before a crowd of at least 100 well-wishers.��

During her remarks, Poulter thanked everyone for attending, but she also recognized the significance of the space to students visiting the building.��

“Your name matters. Your name matters, and being seen matters, and that’s what a place like this does. It tells every student that comes in that you are welcome here,” Poulter said.��

Poulter served from 2018 until her retirement in 2024. The plaque that will be placed in the Poulter Commons includes this excerpt: “Under her leadership, BT����expanded innovative academic programs, broke down barriers for students, and strengthened institutional accreditation efforts. She played a pivotal role in advancing student success initiatives, ensuring that BT����remained a leader in higher education within Arkansas and beyond. Her advocacy for faculty and staff development contributed to a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation. The renovation of this facility into the Student Success and Veterans Resource Center is a staple of her vision, leadership, and impact on this campus.”

By Dr. Fredricka Sharkey

Auditions for The Three Musketeers will be held on Saturday, Feb. 8, from 1-5 p.m., at the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the BT����Campus.��

Get ready for a family-friendly, action-packed adventure like no other! The Three Musketeers is a thrilling, fast-paced adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ classic novel by Tony Award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig. Join the brave and charismatic D’Artagnan as he teams up with the legendary trio—Athos, Porthos, and Aramis—in a swashbuckling tale of honor, friendship, and daring escapades. Filled with swordfights, romance, and a touch of humor, this vibrant production brings to life the timeless spirit of loyalty and justice. Don’t miss your chance to be swept away by the high-energy spectacle of The Three Musketeers—where all for one and one for all still reign supreme!

All roles are paid and everyone is encouraged to audition.��

For more information and to schedule an audition, please visit .

After a two-year hiatus, the Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre returns for the summer of 2022 with one of ���󲹰�����𲹰���’s most beloved works, “Much Ado About Nothing.”����

“Much Ado About Nothing” will be performed at the University of Central Arkansas Bridges Larson Theatre in Snow Fine Arts on June 23-25, June 30 and July 1-2.

Times are listed below:��

• June 23-24 at 7:30 p.m.
• June 25 at 2 p.m.
• June 30 and July 1 at 7:30 p.m.��
• July 2 at 2 p.m.��

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at��

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre is the state’s only professional Shakespeare company and makes its home on the BT����campus. Traditionally, AST would present full productions of ���󲹰�����𲹰���’s works, as well as other plays and musicals that help fulfill AST’s mission to entertain, engage and enrich the community each summer. Due to COVID-19, AST canceled its 2020 and 2021 seasons.��

“We are so excited to be bringing Shakespeare and professional theatre back to campus this summer. AST has been an integral part of the arts community in central Arkansas since 2007.�� While the two-year hiatus has been a huge disappointment, it has also given us a chance to reflect, reimagine and build new connections,” said Shauna Meador, executive managing producer of AST. “As we look forward, we are focused on strengthening our professional theatre foundation, building on our educational mission, and leading and participating in the growth and expansion of the arts in central Arkansas.”

The return of the festival also brings a new partnership with the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.�� AST intends to capitalize on the phenomenal talent and existing resources within the state by taking advantage of the U of A’s graduate performance and design students, as well as talented faculty.��

Michael J. Riha, chair and professor of theatre at the U of A says engaging professionals from across the state is a great way to encourage unification. “We are grateful to play a role in building the theatre community right here in Arkansas,” Riha said.��

“Much Ado About Nothing” will be performed at the Global Campus Theatre at the U of A on June 16-18. Times and ticket information can be found at

“Much Ado About Nothing” will be directed by Stacey Pendergraft, associate professor at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Theatre Arts and Dance. Pendergraft has previously been seen performing on the AST stage in the “Merry Wives of Windsor,” “Fiddler on the Roof,“ “Love’s Labour’s Lost” and “The Music Man.”

“‘Much Ado About Nothing’ will transport audiences to the cultural oasis of Messina, a crossroads of Spanish, North African and Italian influences,” Pendergraft said. “Don Pedro and his band of men arrive at the lush court of Leonato, encountering love, the high-spirited wit and exacting lessons of the women who are its driving force.”

The names and characters or positions of the AST “Much Ado About Nothing” crew are listed below:

Performances kick off June 7 with “The Comedy of Errors”

Tickets are on sale now for Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre’s 13th season, which will run June 7-July 7 at the University of Central Arkansas, with four shows playing in repertory, exploring themes of fate and chance.

The season will open at 7:30 p.m. on June 7 with “The Comedy of Errors” on the lawn of UCA’s McAlister Hall. “Guys and Dolls” will open in UCA’s Reynolds Performance Hall the following week on June 15, and “Macbeth” will open on June 21. AST’s family-friendly adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” will open June 26 in Reynolds Performance Hall and will also tour across the state in June and July.

“The Comedy of Errors” will be directed by Jack Young, artistic director of Houston Shakespeare Festival, who was with AST in its 10th anniversary season as fight choreographer. ���󲹰�����𲹰���’s hilarious comedy includes twins separated at birth, mistaken identities, and unrequited love. Casting the two sets of twins is a challenge, but AST is excited to welcome four actors new to Arkansas to take on those roles — none of whom are actually related. Playing the Antipholus brothers are Justin Jones from New York and Keith Illidge from Chicago. The two Dromios, their sidekicks, will be played by Kyle Clark from Houston and Chris Farrell, Jr. from Chicago. Corrie Green, of Sherwood, Arkansas, who appeared as Perdita in 2018’s “The Winter’s Tale,” takes on the role of Luciana, continuing AST’s practice of bringing together the best artists from across the country with excellent local performers.

“‘The Comedy of Errors’ is ���󲹰�����𲹰���’s quintessential farce, with witty wordplay and hilarious comedic moments,” said producing artistic director Rebekah Scallet.

Scallet herself will return to direct ���󲹰�����𲹰���’s “Macbeth.” This classic tragic tale of hubris will be presented in an intimate on-stage setting, with Emily Wold of Little Rock, who played Helena in AST’s 2016 production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” as Lady Macbeth. Benjamin Reed, who made his professional debut with AST as part of its inaugural season in 2007, will return to play the role of Macbeth. Reed comes to AST after several years as part of the esteemed company at the American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, Virginia.

“I’m so excited to have both Emily and Benjamin back with us to portray this iconic, complicated couple and to give audiences a new take on one of ���󲹰�����𲹰���’s most well-known tragedies,” said Scallet.

Newcomer and Arkansas native Jenna Elser, artistic director of the Glow Lyric Theatre, will direct AST’s musical “Guys and Dolls.” This multiple-Tony Award-winning musical which premiered in 1951, will be given fresh life in this intimate new production. Another Arkansas native, Robert Frost, will return as music director, and AST artistic collective member and audience favorite Chad Bradford will take the stage in the role of Sky Masterson. He will be joined by Rebecca Brudner from New York, who will maker her AST debut as Sarah Brown. First Security Bank is the show sponsor for “Guys and Dolls.”

Tommy Novak, who starred in AST’s 2017 production of “The Music Man,” will make his directorial debut with AST for the touring Family Shakespeare production of “Romeo and Juliet.” With a cast of just eight people telling a reduced version of this classic tale, this hour-long adaptation is perfect for families to enjoy together. “Romeo and Juliet” will be performed on stage at Reynolds, along with stops at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on Petit Jean Mountain, Hot Springs Farmer’s Market, and the Hub in North Little Rock, among others. And at 2 p.m. on July 3 in Reynolds Performance Hall, there will be a special sensory-friendly performance of “Romeo and Juliet” for audience members with sensory-processing deficits, including (but not limited to) those on the autism disorder spectrum and their families.

Rounding out the acting company for 2019 is a talented group of veterans and newcomers, including Paige Reynolds, Will Stotts, Cody Walls, Verda Davenport, Barry Clifton, Moriah Patterson, Braxton Johnson, Ben Grimes, Kevin Alan Brown, Ashley Mahan, Brian Earles, Anthony Bryant, Dylan Blackwood, Patrice Phillips, Dylan Blackwood, Reagan Allen, and Zachary Blair, all of Little Rock; Chris Fritzges of Conway; Nick Narcisi, Charlotte Mae Ellison, and Jack Hradecky, all of Chicago; Maureen Toomey and Stephanie Craveon, both of New York; and BT����students Mikala Hicks, Augustine Nguyen and Saxon Whitehead. Audiences will again be seated on-stage for the three productions in Reynolds Performance Hall. AST’s 13th season will close on July 7.

Tickets to the Reynolds Performance Hall productions of “Macbeth” and “Guys and Dolls” are $34 per person ($28 for seniors, active military and students); tickets for “Romeo and Juliet” are $15 for adults and $12.50 for students. Two-play packages for “Macbeth” and “Guys and Dolls” are available for $50. Package buyers may also purchase tickets to “Romeo and Juliet” for just $10 more. Individual venues will handle ticketing for all touring productions of “Romeo and Juliet.” All outdoor performances of “The Comedy of Errors” are pay-what-you-can (with a $15 per person suggested donation). For more information about tickets or subscriptions, call the box office at (866) 810-0012 or visit .

There is no reserved seating for any performance in Reynolds. Those requiring special accommodations, such as wheelchair seating, are encouraged to contact AST at contact@arkshakes.com or (501) 852-0702 to make advance arrangements.

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre is the state’s only professional Shakespeare company and is proud to make their home on the BT����campus. Each summer, AST offers full productions of a range of Shakespeare’s works, as well as other plays and musicals that help fulfill AST’s mission to entertain, engage and enrich the community.

���󲹰�����𲹰���’s Love’s Labour’s Lost will open June 9, outdoors on the McAlister Hall lawn on the BT����campus. At Reynolds Performance Hall on campus, Meredith Willson’s The Music Man will open June 16; ���󲹰�����𲹰���’s Julius Caesar on June 23; and the family Shakespeare adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew on June 29.

Each show examines the ways in which language is used to sway hearts and minds, whether it’s in the political arena, on the battlefield of love, or singing about “Trouble” in a town square.

Love’s Labour’s Lost, Shakespeare’s hilarious comedy about friends who have sworn off love to focus on academic pursuits, is one of ���󲹰�����𲹰���’s earlier works. This is an opportunity to see one of his lesser-known but no less delightful comedies. AST’s production will feature festival favorite Robert G. Anderson as the foolish Spanish knight Don Armado.

“Audiences will remember Anderson from last season for his moving turn as Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet and in his scene-stealing role as Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” said Mary Ruth Marotte, AST’s executive director.

Rebekah Scallet, AST’s producing artistic director, will direct. Her direction of last season’s Romeo and Juliet won rave reviews. Audiences will enjoy this pay-what-you-can comedy outdoors and under the stars.

AST’s summer season will see the return of many other favorites from seasons past, including Anderson, Paige Reynolds, and Dan Matisa, all starring in Julius Caesar. Matisa, returning for his 10th season at AST, will take on the title role.

“We are thrilled that this season marks our debut production of Julius Caesar, one of Shakespeare’s most moving and relevant tragedies, with our company giving a contemporary spin to a time-honored tale,” Scallet said.

Robert Ramirez, a professor of Acting at the University of Texas, will join AST for the first time as a director and will utilize the intimate on-stage seating in Reynolds Performance Hall.

The classic American musical, Meredith Willson’s The Music Man brings a cast of colorful characters and bombastic tunes into the intimate on-stage setting. Chad Bradford, a Little Rock native and BT����alumnus, stars as Harold Hill with AST newcomer Gabriella Pérez opposite as Marian the Librarian. Pérez has appeared in the National Tour of Kathleen Marshall’s Anything Goes, and comes to AST fresh off the Spanish-language premiere of Lin Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights.

Although The Music Man may seem an unusual choice for a Shakespeare festival to produce, Scallet said, “The way Willson uses music reminds me so much of how Shakespeare uses language as he incorporates complex rhythms and harmonies that help his characters achieve their goals.”

Conway Corporation is the presenting sponsor of this summer’s production of The Music Man.

AST’s Family Shakespeare is a one-hour adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew, perfect for audiences of all ages. This musical take on the opposites-attract classic comedy stars AST favorite and Conway native Jordy Neill as Petruchio and AST newcomer Kat Cordes as Kate.

In addition to its shows onstage in UCA’s Reynolds Performance Hall, Shrew will also tour the state, with stops at The Joint in the Argenta Arts District in North Little Rock on June 20 and 21; the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute on Petit Jean Mountain on June 24; Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville on June 28; the Hot Springs Farmer’s Market Pavilion on June 30; the “Sparks in Park” festival in Magnolia on July 3; and at the Fowler Center at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro on July 9.

Tickets to the Reynolds Performance Hall productions of Julius Caesar and The Music Man are $32 per person ($25 for seniors/active military/students); tickets for The Taming of the Shrew are $10 for all. Two-play packages for Julius Caesar and The Music Man are also available for $45. Package buyers may also purchase tickets to The Taming of the Shrew for $8 each. The individual venues will handle ticketing for all touring productions of Shrew.

There is no reserved seating for any performance in Reynolds. Those requiring special accommodations such as wheelchair seating are encouraged to contact AST at contact@arkshakes.com or 501-852-0702 to make advance arrangements.

All outdoor performances of Love’s Labour’s Lost are pay-what-you-can (with a $15 per person suggested donation.) For more information about tickets or subscriptions, call the box office at 1-866-810-0012 or visit arkshakes.com.

Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre is proud to be a part of the University of Central Arkansas and is grateful for the continued support and sponsorship of the following BT����entities: Office of the President, College of Fine Arts and Communication, and Department of Film, Theatre, and Creative Writing.

The BT����College of Fine Arts and Communication includes the Departments of Art, Communication, Mass Communication and Theatre, Music and Writing. The college’s primary mission is the preparation of the next generation of artists, educators and communicators. For more information about CFAC, visit��uca.edu/cfac��or call 501- 450-3293.

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Full performance schedule at BT����by show:

Love’s Labour’s Lost
Outdoors on the lawn in front of McAlister Hall, University of Central Arkansas

Friday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 18 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 25 at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 2 at 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 7 at 7:30 p.m.

Meredith Willson’s The Music Man
Reynolds Performance Hall

Friday, June 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 17 at 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 18 at 2 p.m.
Sunday, June 25 at 2 p.m.
Tuesday, June 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 1 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 5 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 8 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Julius Caesar
Reynolds Performance Hall

Friday, June 23 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 2 at 2 p.m.
Thursday, July 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 9 at 2 p.m.

The Taming of the Shrew (Family Shakespeare)
Reynolds Performance Hall

Thursday, June 29 at 2 p.m.
Friday, June 30 at 10 a.m.
Tuesday, July 4 at 2 p.m.
Friday, July 7 at 2 p.m.
Saturday, July 8 at 10 a.m.

Tour locations across the state listed above.

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Theatre Program will present the Tony award-winning musical Avenue Q in April.

Directed by Chris Fritzges, performances are set for April 13, 14, 20 and 21 at 7:30 p.m. and April 15 and 22 at 2 p.m. in the Bridges/Larson Theatre of the Snow Fine Arts Center and will include puppeteer Rick Lyon.

“When we were reading shows for the musical performance, I was immediately taken with the prospect of directing Avenue Q,” said Fritzges, associate professor of theatre. “It is an educational element that would allow us to explore puppetry.”

Avenue Q is a traditional two-act musical inspired by the PBS series Sesame Street.

“It puts an adult spin on it by satirizing the promises of childhood and the realities of adulthood,” according to .

Avenue Q opened on Broadway in 2003 and won Tony awards for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book in 2004.

Lyon visited BT����as artist-in-residence earlier in March to work with students on using the puppets he designed for the original Broadway production.

“Puppetry is an important niche area with the theatre world that seems to be gaining momentum, especially with the success of Avenue Q,” Lyon told students during his residency.

The production is recommended for mature audiences only.

“We expect large audiences for these shows due to its popularity, but even though there are puppets, the show has adult themes and language and is not appropriate for children,” Fritzges said.

Tickets are $10 for the general public. The BT����community may receive two free tickets with current I.D. Reservations may be made by calling��501-450-3265��or by visiting BT����Ticket Central in the Reynolds Performance Hall box office. More information is available online at����or by contacting Melissa Pearson, BT����Theatre Business Manager, at��mkordsmeier@uca.edu��or��501-450-5092.

The BT����College of Fine Arts and Communication includes the Departments of Art, Music, and Film, Theatre and Creative Writing, as well as the School of Communication. The college’s primary mission is the preparation of the next generation of artists, educators and communicators. For more information about CFAC, visit or call��‪501-450-3293.