MUSIC
Organ-ized celebration
Organist Rees Taylor Roberts marks Johann Sebastian Bach’s 340th birthday with a concert of music by Bach and subsequent composers that reflect Bach’s influence, 7 p.m. Tuesday in the sanctuary of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 4106 John F. Kennedy Blvd. on North Little Rock’s Park Hill. Admission is free. Call (501) 753-3578 or email [email protected].
The program, part of the church’s Festival of the Senses series, includes the “Ave Maria” from Répons pour le Temps Liturgique for Organ Solo by Jeanne Demessieux; Magnificat Secundi Toni by Matthias Weckmann; Passacaglia in d minor by Dietrich Buxtehude; Sonata No. 3 in A major by Felix Mendelssohn; “Unter de Linden Grüne” by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck; and Bach’s Prelude in E-flat major, Sonata in E-flat major and Fugue in E-flat major.
Roberts, a Little Rock native, was organist and choirmaster at St. Luke’s from 2017-19 before returning to school to complete his master’s degree. He now lives in Cleveland, where he works for the Grammy-winning baroque orchestra Apollo’s Fire.
Percussive performance
The University of Arkansas at Little Rock Percussion Ensemble, the Trojan Steel Band, and the West Memphis High School Percussion Ensemble perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, Fine Arts Building, UALR, 2801 S. University Ave., Little Rock. Justin Bunting directs. Admission is free. Call (501) 916-3291 or email [email protected].
International Jazz Day
David Higginbotham, bass and vocals; Chris Parker, keyboard; Kelly Hurt, vocals; and Phillip House, drums, perform for the Arkansas Jazz Heritage Foundation’s International Jazz Day Meet and Greet, 5-9 p.m. Wednesday at Dizzy’s Gypsy Bistro, 200 River Market Ave., Little Rock. Admission is free. Make dinner reservations by calling (501) 375-3500 or visit dizzysir.com.
ART & EXHIBITS
‘Stitches in Time’
“Ozark Quilts: Stitches in Time,” quilts that have been donated to the Rogers Historical Museum’s permanent collection and a salute to one of the museum’s earliest major exhibits, goes on display Saturday in the Trammel Gallery at the museum, 313 S. Second St. at Cherry Street, Rogers. It’s part of the museum’s 50th anniversary celebration.
The exhibit, up through March 28, showcases some of the same Ozark quilts that made an appearance in that exhibit, along with the debut of some newer acquisitions. It will also include quilts from the museum’s collection that have been on display in the permanent galleries and in the 1895 Hawkins House.
Admission is free. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Call (479) 621-1154 or visit rogershistoricalmuseum.org.
ETC.
War-ending anniversary
Hugh Mills, a Hot Springs native, graduate of Hot Springs High School and one of the most decorated helicopter pilots in the Vietnam War, will discuss his experiences in the war and his 26-year career in the U.S. Army as the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock, hosts “An Evening with Lt. Col (Ret.) Hugh Mills,” 7 p.m. Tuesday. The talk marks the 50th anniversary of the April 3, 1975, end to the Vietnam War. Admission is free. Call (501) 376-4602.
Mills commanded the Aero Scouts Platoon, the so-called “Outcasts of D Troop,” where he developed many of the Army’s air cavalry aero scout tactics. Later he flew and commanded a squadron of Cobra helicopters. He is the co-author of “Low Level Hell: A Scout Pilot in the Big Red One.”
He flew more than 3,300 combat hours and retired in 1993. His medals include three Silver Stars; the Legion of Merit; six Distinguished Flying Crosses; three Bronze Stars; three Purple Hearts; three Meritorious Service Medals; two Air Medals for combat hours and six Air Medals for personal valor; six Army Commendation Medals for valor; and the National Defense Service Medal. The Government of Vietnam also awarded him the Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star and Palm, the Vietnamese Honor Medal First Class, and the Civic Action Honor Medal First Class. He is also a member of the Arkansas Military Veterans’ Hall of Fame. The museum’s Vietnam Gallery displays Mills’ uniform, flight helmet and medals.
‘History on the Run’
The 16th MacArthur Park “History on the Run” 5K starts at 7 p.m. Friday, starting at the north lawn of Little Rock’s MacArthur Park on East Ninth Street (in front of the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History), proceeds through the MacArthur Park and Pettaway neighborhoods and concludes at the starting point. Emcee is KTHV-TV, Channel 11 reporter-anchor Brooke Buckner. A post-race awards ceremony will feature a live performance by Jimmy Lynn’s Psychedelic Velocity, pizza and beverages from Stone’s Throw Brewing. Runner-walker registration for the race is $25 before Thursday, $35 same day; visit macarthurparklr.org/macarthur-park-5k. For post-race spectators (covering band, food and drinks), admission is $15, $10 for children 12 and younger. Proceeds fund improvements to MacArthur Park.
Herb extravaganza
Demonstrations, lectures and workshops involving herbs and botanicals are all part of the Heritage Herb Spring Extravaganza, Thursday-Saturday at the Ozark Folk Center State Park, 1302 Park Ave., Mountain View.
The festival takes place during National Herb Week and is designed for anyone interested in learning about herbs. It kicks off at 6 p.m. Thursday with a reception, sponsored by the Herb Society of America — Ozark Unit, and hors d’oeuvres and libations will be served at the park’s Bois D’Arc Center.
Friday’s lineup includes hands-on Intensive Workshops relating to herbs and botanicals; admission is $35 per workshop and attendees can choose up to two. The Heritage Herb Spring Extravaganza Symposium, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, features herbalists, gardeners and authors covering personal relationships with herbs, methods for teaching children about plants and conservation. Saturday cost to attend is $100. Register for Friday and Saturday events at OzarkFolkCenter.TicketLeap.com.
AUDITIONS
Royal ‘Jekyll & Hyde’
Benton’s Royal Players are holding auditions for “Jekyll & Hyde — The Musical” (music by Frank Wildhorn, book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, based on the Robert Louis Stevenson classic), 10 a.m.-noon and 2-4 p.m. June 7 in the upstairs choir room at the First United Methodist Church, 200 N. Market Street, Benton (use the Conway Street entrance).
Prepare 32 bars (or one minute) of a song; the theater is not providing an accompanist, so take an instrumental track or accompaniment track. The same actor will play Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde, so those planning to audition specifically for that combined role should prepare two songs that are total opposites in subject matter and performance. Director/choreographer Summer Brinley will also be casting two to four 12-14 year olds and five to seven 15-19 year olds for the ensemble. Production dates are Sept. 11-14 and 18-21. Rehearsals begin Aug. 4.
Callbacks will be 2-4 June 8. More information, including a complete character breakdown, is available at facebook.com/events/696707109683091. Fill out the Google audition form prior to your audition: tinyurl.com/y9zh3mhj (requires a Google account) or submit video submissions to [email protected].