ENTERTAINMENT: Mixed-media exhibit to open at El Dorado arts center | The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

ART

‘Free Lunch’

“Free Lunch,” mixed-media portraits by Louisiana-born artist Vitus Shell, a faculty member at the University of Louisiana at Monroe, opens Tuesday in the Merkle Gallery at the South Arkansas Arts Center, 110 E. Fifth St., El Dorado, with an artist’s reception, 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday. Through his work, Shell “explores his view of the Black experience through themes of identity, civil rights and contemporary culture,” according to a news release. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Admission to the reception and the center are free. Call (870) 862-5474 or visit saac-arts.org.

ETC.

Grant applications

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will start accepting letters of intent for its County Courthouse and Historic Preservation grants, Sept. 15, with the period to submit applications starting Nov. 12. First-time applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of intent, in the wake of which program staff will provide feedback, technical assistance and help with project development. Deadline to apply for County Courthouse Grants is Jan. 26; for Historic Preservation Restoration Grants, March 4. More information is available at arkansasheritage.com/arkansas-preservation/about/available-grants.

 

TICKETS

UCA season

Individual tickets for the 2025-26 University of Central Arkansas Public Appearances season are on sale, via uca.edu/publicappearances or by calling (501) 450-3265 or (866) 810-0012.

Tickets for the Broadway, Pops and Night Out series are $27-$50. “An Evening With” tickets are $17-$40, $10 for children and students. Main Stage shows are $10, $5 for children and students. Windgate Collection shows are $17-$40, $10 for children and students.

The lineup:

Broadway Series (except as noted, all shows at 7 p.m. in UCA’s Reynolds Performance Hall, 201 Donaghey Ave., Conway)

◼️ Oct. 16: “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical”

◼️ Dec. 10: “Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol”

◼️ Feb. 20: “The Simon and Garfunkel Story”

◼️ March 15: “The Music Man,” 7:30 p.m.

Night Out Series (all shows 7 p.m. in Reynolds)

◼️ Sept. 25: “Uptown: A Celebration of Motown and Soul”

◼️ Nov. 21: Cirque Dreams Holidaze

◼️ Dec. 14: Actor/comedian Kevin Nealon LIVE

◼️ March 7: “Jaws” in Concert with the Conway Symphony Orchestra.

Pops Series (all shows 7 p.m. in Reynolds)

◼️ Sept. 9: Gin Blossoms with special guest Spin Doctors

◼️ Oct. 9: The Band Perry: A Homecoming

◼️ Nov. 18: “Movin’ Out with Michael Cavanaugh: The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John”

◼️ Feb. 13: John Waite.

“An Evening With” (both shows 7 p.m. in Reynolds)

◼️ Oct. 23: Candace Bushnell: True Tales of Sex, Success, and “Sex and the City”

◼️ Feb. 19: Serial Killers with Dr. Scott Bonn.

“Add-on” show (7 p.m. in Reynolds):

◼️ Oct. 20: Indigo Girls.

Windgate Collection (all shows, 7 p.m., Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 2150 Bruce St. at Donaghey Avenue)

◼️ Nov. 2: Trout Fishing in America

◼️ Jan. 18: Ambrosia

◼️ April 11: So Percussion.

Main Stage Education Series (all shows, except as noted, 10 a.m. and noon in Reynolds)

◼️ Sept. 29: “The Magic School Bus”

◼️ Nov. 12: “Mr. C: When Science Goes Viral”

◼️ March 4: “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom: The Musical”

◼️ March 19: “Pete the Cat”; benefit for the series, 6 p.m.

◼️ April 2: “Hare and Tortoise.”