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HONORS: Outstanding teachers
Julia Reynolds of Russellvilleformer band principal at Sheridan High School and Russellville High School and for 23 years executive secretary of the Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association, is one of seven section recipients of the National Federation’s Outstanding Music Educator Awards of State High School Associations. .
Reynolds won the 1997 Arkansas Bandmaster of the Year award and was inducted into the Arkansas Bandmasters Hall of Fame in 2019.
And Helen Strickland, a teacher and coach at Little Rock West High School of Innovation, is one of 12 state winners in the NFHS Outstanding Speech and Debate Educator category and also one of six state winners in the Outstanding category Theater. Strickland has previously taught at Arkansas State University, Central High School, and Hall High School and served as president and vice president of the Arkansas Communication Theater Arts Association.
HEARING: Shakespearian comedy
Little Rock Theater Actorsin partnership with Henderson State University, will hold auditions for “As You Like It” by William Shakespeare, adapted and directed by Mark A. Burbank, by appointment, beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday at Pinnacle View Middle School, 5701 Ranch Drive , Little Rock.
Prepare a one- to two-minute Shakespearean monologue (comedy preferred, but not required). And because the director acknowledges that “Shakespeare can be a little scary for those who don’t specialize in it”, listeners can deliver it memorized or “on book” and “the level of memorization won’t hamper your hearing”. The theater group “emphasizes inclusivity and diversity in casting” and encourages performers of all ethnicities, races, gender identities, body types and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to audition.
Production dates are April 6-9 at Henderson State in Arkadelphia. Rehearsals begin in early February and will run two to three days a week through mid-March, split between Little Rock and Arkadelphia. All roles will earn a small stipend plus travel expenses.
Make audition appointments and ask questions via email [email protected]
Rogers premiere
Arkansas Public Theater will be holding auditions for the world premiere of Oren Safdie’s “Survival of the Unfit,” at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 at the Victory Theater, 116 S. Second St., Rogers. Auditions will be based on script readings. Download the audition package, including audition times, scenes, character descriptions and rehearsal schedule, at arkansaspublictheatre.org/castingandvolunteering. Bring the package to the auditions.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; recalls, if necessary, will take place on February 14. Production dates are March 24-26, March 30-31, and April 1-2. Call (479) 631-8988 or visit arkansaspublictheatre.org for more information.
