ACANSA Arts Festival of the South is 10 years old, and dozens of artists are convening September 5-21, 2024, in Little Rock and North Little Rock venues to celebrate this milestone with world-class music, dance and theater performances

Schedule:

September 5, 2024

7:30 pm: The Big Dam Horns

The Rail Yard - 1212 East 6th Street, Little Rock, AR 72202

ACANSA is celebrating big with a birthday party featuring The Big Dam Horns al fresco at The Rail Yard. Taking its name from Little Rock's Big Dam Bridge, The Big Dam Horns deliver a horn infused, one-two punch of jazz, blues, soul and R&B with the left and a knockout blow of rock & roll with the right. Beverages and the area’s finest food truck fare will be available for purchase.

Tickets: $15

September 6, 2024

7:30 pm: The Heart Collectors

The Studio Theatre - 320 W 7th St, Little Rock, AR 72201

Traveling from Australia to Arkansas, The Heart Collectors are known internationally for blending inspiration from 1960s and 1970s folk and roots music with tight vocal harmonies and enchanting melodies. Performing with cello, guitar, mandolin, banjo and bodhran, their music spans harmony-led ballads to Bowie-esque soundscapes.

Tickets: $25

September 7, 2024

10am - 2pm: Family Arts Day in partnership with UA-PTC

Featuring Buckets N Boards at Stage Performance at Noon

Argenta Plaza - 510 N Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114

In partnership with UA-PTC, ACANSA welcomes all ages to a fun-filled arts exploration featuring creative, hands-on activities for the young and young at heart. Buckets N Boards - a hilarious and high-energy show chock-full of amazing percussion, ridiculous songs, spectacular tap dancing, inventive instrumentation and an incredible variety of musical talents - takes the stage at 12 noon.

7:30 pm: Cello Stories: A Life Under Broadway in partnership with Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts

Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts’ Amerine/Calhoun Glass Box - 501 E 9th St, Little Rock, AR 72202

Acclaimed cellist Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf has performed in 21 Broadway shows. In Cello Stories: A Life Under Broadway she mesmerizes audiences with her exquisite arrangements for cello and piano, coupled with captivating stories about her life as a musician.

Tickets: $35

September 9, 2024

7:30 pm: Bassist John Hébert in partnership with Jazz at the Joint

The Joint - 301 Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114

Bassist John Hébert, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and leader of Byzantine Monkey, is known for his unique playing style and lush compositions. His Blue Note Records release, Time Lines, was awarded “Record of the Year” by Downbeat’s Jazz Critics Poll. Performing around the globe with world famous artists, John now calls New York home, where he has performed at such venues as Village Vanguard, Blue Note, The Jazz Standard, Birdland, and The Iridium

Tickets: $30

September 11 - 21, 2024

7:30pm: Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys in partnership with Argenta Contemporary Theatre

Gold Passes attend Opening Night Reception & Show

Sharon Heflin Performing Arts Center - 315 Main Street Suite B ,North Little Rock, AR 72114

Al and Willie as “Lewis and Clark” were top-billed vaudevillians for over forty years. Now they aren’t even speaking. When CBS requests them for a “History of Comedy” retrospective, a grudging reunion brings the two back together, along with a flood of memories, miseries, and laughs. Directed by Vincent Insalaco.

The play stars Little Rock’s P. Jay Clark as Willie Clark and New York native Freddy Geils as Al Lewis who were top-billed vaudevillians for over forty years. Now they aren’t even speaking. When CBS requests them for a “History of Comedy” retrospective, a grudging reunion brings the two back together, along with a flood of memories, miseries,
and laughs.

The Sunshine Boys is directed by ACT Producing Artistic Director Vincent Insalaco. The show also features Greg Fallon, Satia Spencer and Kristen Phantazia Smith.

Performances run September 11-21. Evening performances begin at 7:30pm and the Sunday matinee begins at 2pm. Ticket prices are $38 and are available at argentacontemporarytheatre.org. Opening Night tickets are available at ACANSA.org

Click here for more Information About Neil Simon's The Sunshine Boys

September 12, 2024

7:30 pm: Tripliciti in partnership with Potluck & Poison Ivy

The Joint - 301 Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114
From the collective minds of virtuoso musicians Andy McKee, Calum Graham, and Trevor Gordon Hall, tripliciti is a bold, new musical experience showcasing three of the foremost acoustic guitar composers in the world today

Tickets: $30

September 13, 2024

7:30 pm: The Other Mozart

CALS Ron Robinson Theater - Library Square, 100 River Market Ave, Little Rock, AR 72201
Sylvia Milo’s stunning and award-winning play, THE OTHER MOZART, tells the true, forgotten story of Amadeus Mozart’s sister, Nannerl. Nannerl was a prodigy, keyboard virtuoso and composer who performed throughout Europe with her brother to equal acclaim, but her work faded away, lost to history.

Tickets: $35

September 14, 2024

7:00 pm: Gangstagrass in Partnership with Argenta Arts District

7:00 pm headliner during Argenta’s Dogtown Throwdown

Argenta Arts District - 406 Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114
Gangstagrass is the Emmy-nominated, Billboard-charting band known for its dynamism and spontaneity - and the theme song for Justified, the FX television show. Led by Rench, these MCs and pickers are the pioneers of an authentic, paradigm-shifting bluegrass and hip-hop genre. Gangstagrass. It’s not what you think.

Tickets: Free

September 19, 2024

7:30 pm: Tennessee Rising: The Dawn of Tennessee Williams

The Joint - 301 Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114
Written and performed by Jacob Storms, Tennessee Rising sheds light on the unexplored, formative years (1939-1945) of Tom Williams as he metamorphoses into his most iconic character - America’s acclaimed playwright, Tennessee Williams - and grapples with first love, professional triumph and torment, heartbreak, and ultimately "the catastrophe of success." The play was originally directed for the stage by Alan Cumming.

Tickets: $30

September 20, 2024

5:00 - 8:00 pm: 3rd Friday Art Walk

Argenta Arts District - Main Street, North Little Rock, 72114

Curated by Will Hogg, a new exhibit by Arkansas artist Sergio Valdivia, opens in ACANSA Gallery at 413A Main Street. Grab an Argenta Arts District “Passport” and visit up to a dozen venues to see new works and public murals throughout Argenta’s entertainment district.

Tickets: Free

7:30 pm: Ryan & Ryan: Kickin’ the Clouds Away

CalsRon Robinson Theater - Library Square, 100 River Market Ave, Little Rock, AR 72201

Ryan & Ryan, a dynamic father-son duo, are Kickin’ the Clouds Away with classic and contemporary music played four hands on two grand pianos. Barron and his dad, Donald, perform jazz, ragtime, classical, and even gospel song arrangements. Barron Ryan’s solo performance was a 2017 Festival favorite, and this concert, too, is sure to strike a chord with audiences.

Tickets: $35

September 21, 2024

Afternoon: Hispanic Heritage Festival

Argenta Plaza - 510 N Main St, North Little Rock, AR 72114

Presented by Seis Puentes, Hispanic Heritage Festival celebrates our local Hispanic community, artists, music, and culinary scene.
Join ACANSA as we explore authentic food vendors, arts and crafts, kids activities and live entertainment.

Tickets: Free

7:30 pm: Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s DBDT: Encore!

UA-PTC CHARTS Theater - 3300 West Scenic Drive, North Little Rock, 72118

The #ACANSA2024 Festival comes to a close with a diverse mix of modern dance exuding the grace, strength and cultural flair of DBDT: Encore!, also known as Dallas Black Dance Theatre II, as they perform contemporary and lyrical works including world premieres and revivals of the Theatre’s repertoire.

Tickets: $35

Date: September 5 - 21, 2024

Location:

Various Venue

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Click here for more Information