What's Up! NWA and River Valley

Interview with Kristin Chenoweth

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 20:46:00 +0000

Broadway star and actress Kristin Chenoweth is interviewed by reporter Monic Hooper about an upcoming performance she will do of holiday songs and other favorites at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville as part of the Land O’ Lakes concert series.

Chenoweth revealed some of her earliest memories are of Arkansas, where she lived as a child up until second grade.

Against All Odds: Pat Ryan Key Beats Rare Brain Cancer and Continues to Make Music

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 19:39:27 +0000

Pat Ryan Key was diagnosed with a form of brain cancer that's rare for adults. After a difficult period to land on a diagnosis, he had emergency surgery that could have easily taken his musical abilities from him.

Key is now cancer free and still, against all odds, making music.

You can hear him perform this weekend at Bikes, Blues and BBQ, or online with the release of his new single and music video "Truth," which are out Sept. 20.

Actress Bailey Frankenberg, Tiger Lily, on Peter Pan at the Walton Arts Center

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Fri, 20 Sep 2024 19:28:21 +0000

Actress Bailey Frankenberg chats with Monica Hooper on our What’s Up podcast about playing Tiger Lily in the Broadway tour of “Peter Pan,” the show’s updated costumes and how audience all over the country are in love with the new production.

Talking with the curators for Crystal Bridges' Knowing the West exhibit

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 19:13:01 +0000

Mindy Besaw, curator and director of research, fellowships and university partnerships at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, co-curated "Knowing the West" with Jami Powell, a citizen of the Osage Nation and associate director for curatorial affairs and curator of Indigenous art at the Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College.

The new exhibit will open to the public at Crystal Bridges on Saturday, Sept. 14.

Sneaker Artists Hannah De La O and Lamaundre Nelson

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 23:05:42 +0000

Join Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette features editor April Wallace as she interviews sneaker artists Hannah De La O and Lamaundre Nelson.

Hannah De La O is one of the local artists who will be customizing sneakers, both ahead of and during the Suits and Sneakers Gala. Lamaundre Nelson is a Little Rock based artist who often customizes sneakers for the Gala and has done a number of sneakers for former Razorback Coach Eric Musselman.

The event benefits the American Cancer Society and will take place October 11 at the Fayetteville Town Center.

Single Parent Scholarship Fund of NWA Marks 40 Years of Success Through Scholarships and Support

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 16:37:19 +0000

Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Northwest Arkansas is celebrating 40 years of encouraging people's personal success, which it makes possible through scholarships and individual support systems, including a network of program managers and free behavioral health services.

The Scholarship Fund President and CEO Tyler B. Clark speaks to the work of serving Washington, Benton, Carroll and Madison Counties and the Scholarship Fund recipient Elizabeth Roman shares her personal experience with the program in this podcast with Associate Features Editor April Wallace.

Ozark Ballet Theater's first major Benton County production, "Cinderella"

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Fri, 05 Apr 2024 19:55:17 +0000

Ozark Ballet Theater artists and executive director David Sanders talk about their upcoming performance of “Cinderella” at 7 p.m. April 26 and 2 p.m. April 27 at Bentonville West High School.

The ballet is OBT’s first major production in Benton County.

Please note, Alexey Minkin was called away on a family emergency. The role of the Prince will be played by Maikel Hernandez.

James McMurtry on songwriting and future albums

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 20:08:07 +0000

The Horses and the Hounds will bring James McMurtry back to Northwest Arkansas on March 30th for a show at George’s Majestic Lounge in Fayetteville. McMurtry took a moment to talk about songwriting and plans for another album on the What’s Up podcast.

Reviving a Classic: 'Company' takes the stage at the Walton Arts Center

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Wed, 14 Feb 2024 17:51:02 +0000

"Company," a new production of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s groundbreaking musical comedy, comes Feb. 20-25 to the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville.

Join Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's Monica Hooper as she talks with Britney Coleman and Judy McLane, the two main actors about breathing new life into a well known musical on the What's Up podcast.

Cherise Carver and Hunter Anderson perform, “A Man Made Out of Snow”

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 23:46:59 +0000

Local country singer songwriter Cherise Carver and guitarist Hunter Anderson join the What’s Up podcast to share their newest Christmas song, “A Man Made Out of Snow,” written by Carver and Cynthia Clark. Carver and Anderson also share their holiday plans and talk about the upcoming year.

A preview of Rhonda Vincent's Christmas concert in Fort Smith

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 23:53:00 +0000

Bluegrass queen Rhonda Vincent talks about all things holly jolly ahead of her annual Christmas concert coming Dec. 9 to the ArcBest Performing Arts Center in Fort Smith.

Rhonda Vincent told us that she’s been singing Christmas songs since this summer to get ready for her latest holiday album. The longstanding “Queen of Bluegrass” brings Christmas cheer to Fort Smith at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the ArcBest Performing Arts Center.

The eight-time Grammy nominee — who won best bluegrass album in 2017 — called into the What’s Up! podcast for a quick chat about the holidays, getting married on Christmas Eve, her plans for 2024 and her upcoming Christmas show. She also shares her latest Christmas single, “Mary, Did You Know?”

Exclusive interviews with 'The Band's Visit' stars Usman Ali Mughal and Yaya

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 21:20:34 +0000

Arts & Entertainment Editor Becca Martin-Brown chats with two of the actors in Northwest Arkansas for the regional premiere of "The Band's Visit" at TheatreSquared. Usman Ali Mughal plays Haled, a member of an Egyptian traveling band, and Yaya — yes, just Yaya — is the Israeli who welcomes the travelers into town. The show has its final performances Nov. 3, 4 and 5.

Fayetteville Film Festival Pitch Prize winner Diana Campos and her film, "The Price of Poultry"

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 18:33:24 +0000

Winner of the Fayetteville Film Festival Pitch Prize, Diana Campos, is making a documentary “The Price of Poultry” about issues facing “chicken catchers” at poultry plants across the country. She’s a Northwest Arkansas native and an NYU Film/TV, Cinema Studies Graduate.

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Author R.L. Stine talks 30 years of Goosebumps and his busiest autumn yet

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 17:46:44 +0000

R.L. Stine has been haunting children for decades, ever since the release of his Fear Street series for young teens in 1989 and later the first Goosebumps novel, Welcome to Dead House in 1992. More than 200 Goosebumps books have been published and in its 30 years, the series has sold more than 400 million books, but the author is not slowing down. In fact, he says it’s his busiest fall yet.

Zombie Town, his latest movie, was released on Hulu on October 6; he’s got four books coming out, including one that imparts writing tips for adults and a recently released horror comic book for adults, Stuff of Nightmares.

Associate Features Editor April Wallace spoke with the award winning author by Zoom. Locals can hear Stine speak this coming week as a part of the True Lit Festival. An evening with R.L. Stine will take place starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday October 26 in the event center at the Fayetteville Public Library.

For more of the story, see Hidden Gems in Profiles this Sunday at: nwaonline.com/nwprofile/.

Some Guy Named Robb takes center stage on the What’s Up Podcast

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 20:48:06 +0000

If you read our music calendar, you’ve no doubt come across Some Guy Named Robb who performs mostly around the River Valley.

Today we get to know the man behind the silly moniker and hear a song or two from him on the What’s Up podcast.

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Celebrating 30 years with Jon Williams, a Northwest Arkansas broadcasting icon

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 20:43:00 +0000

This fall Jon Williams is celebrating a broadcasting career that's lasted 30 years and counting, most of which has been spent in Northwest Arkansas.

The well known founder of the Jon & Deek show on 94.9 radio, Williams is currently the on-field emcee for Arkansas Razorbacks football, the on-court announcer for Razorback men’s basketball and is also the PA announcer for Razorback baseball, Razorback women’s basketball and Razorback Gymnastics (Gymbacks).

In addition, Williams and Derek Kastner host Hog Town, the official Razorback Tailgate event before every Razorback football game. Now he and Deek additionally host the Razorback Recap an hour after each football game on 92.1 The Ticket, the flagship station for the Hogs.

Musician Aaron Smith dives into 'The Legend of Sam Davis...'

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 23:05:07 +0000

Musician Aaron Smith stopped by the What’s Up podcast to talk about his book and album, “The Legend of Sam Davis and Other Stories of Newton County, Arkansas.

Tim O'Brien and Jan Fabricius will open the AACLive! Season

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 21:29:29 +0000

Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricius will open the AACLive! Season at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 16 in Fort Smith. O’Brien is a multi-Grammy award winner and longtime staple in old time and bluegrass music. His tunes have been covered by the likes of Kathey Mattea, Garth Brooks and the Chicks.

He’s well known as a solo artist and a member of Colorado’s Hot Rize. His wife Jan joins him on stage, a lifelong musician, she plays mandolin and clarinet and has been a singer since her youth. Tickets to their show are on sale now at aaclive.com

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Broadway musical SIX rewrites history with music

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 01:00:00 +0000

Rewrite history, but make it sing! The Broadway season opens with “SIX” starting Sept. 12 at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville. Gerianne Pérez who plays Catherine of Aragon and Sydney Parra who plays Catherine Parr, two of Henry VIII’s ex-wives turned pop divas, join us on the What’s Up podcast to talk about rewriting the stories of history — to music.

Arkansas' Bonnie Montgomery - a country singer with an operatic range

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 18:40:52 +0000

Arkansas songstress Bonnie Montgomery has spent more than a decade making music and touring the world with her signature Southern twang and impressive range. The country singer with an operatic range, stops by the What's Up podcast to talk about her latest album and plans for the fall.

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TheatreSquared latest production - "Dial M for Murder"

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 17:56:55 +0000

TheatreSquared brings to its stage a new adaptation of "Dial M for Murder," still set in the noir 1950s but with a very 2023 twist.

Joining Arts & Entertainment Editor Becca Martin-Brown for a podcast were director Melissa Rain Anderson; Colin Sphar, who plays the surprised husband; Eric Dean White, Inspector Hubbard; and Almanya Narula, who plays Maxine — the surprise.

The show runs through Sept. 10 at T2. Read the full story Sunday in What's Up!

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Interview with musician Raif Box about the Anvil Fest

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 13:00:00 +0000

Raif Box, Fayetteville musician and genius producer behind Holy Anvil Recording Company, is launching his first music festival, Anvil Fest 2023. The Fest will feature music from the bands that he’s highlighted on his YouTube chanel. Ashtyn Barbaree & the Barbarians, Jess Harp, The Phelgms, TV Preacher and the Bellwether Sirens are just a few of the acts slated to play for the Aug. 18-19 music fest at CACHE Studios in Bentonville.

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John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is coming to Eureka Springs

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Tue, 01 Aug 2023 11:00:00 +0000

John McEuen chats with What's Up writer Monica Hooper about his upcoming show in Eureka Springs on Aug. 12 where he and the Circle Band will revist Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," recorded nearly 50 years ago.

The album featured Roy Acuff, "Mother" Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, Randy Scruggs, Merle Travis, Pete "Oswald" Kirby, Norman Blake, Jimmy Martin, and others.

In the studio with musician and professor Sam King

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 16:01:21 +0000

Artist, musician and an associate professor of art in the University of Arkansas School of Art, Sam King recently joined us for a podcast to talk about his upcoming improvisational performance, “Untight,” happening near sunset (7:45-8 p.m.) Aug. 3 inside James Turrell’s “Skyspace The Way of Color,” located on the south lawn of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.

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Interview with local comic artist Benji Nate

Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 15:46:19 +0000

Puerto Rico born, local comic artist Benji Nate spent this summer touring for her latest book, a graphic novel called "Girl Juice" that's really hitting home with millennials everywhere. Nate discusses the inspiration and making of the book with Associate Features Editor April Wallace.

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