MUSIC
Alexander Kerr, concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony, solos in Sergei Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra on the first half of the program, then sits in with the orchestra and conductor Geoff Robson as guest concertmaster for Dmitri Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, 7:30 p.m. today — the orchestra moving and consolidating Saturday and Sunday concerts because of the pending storm — at Little Rock’s Robinson Center Performance Hall, 426 W. Markham St. at Broadway. If you already have a ticket for the weekend, it’s good, but seating will be general admission. (501) 666-1761; Arkansassymphony.org.
Blues singer Bette Smith performs at 7:30 p.m. today at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. (501) 372-4000; arkmfa.org.
More than two dozen singers from throughout the United States will take part in the Arkansas District Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition for young voice talent, 1 p.m. Saturday at Pinnacle View United Methodist Church, 20100 Cantrell Road, Little Rock. facebook.com/armetoperaauditions.
And speaking of the Metropolitan Opera, its premiere production of Mason Bates’ “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay,” recorded live earlier in the 2025-26 season, is available in 800 movie theaters — including Little Rock’s Movie Tavern and Fayetteville’s Razorback Cinema — 1 p.m. Saturday. tinyurl.com/ypfs86c2.
THEATER
New this week:
Weather permitting, Stage 13 is staging “Mean Girls the Musical” (based on the 2004 film), 7:30 p.m. today and Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Wildwood Park for the Arts, 20919 Denny Road, Little Rock. stage13.org.
Continuing:
Two struggling writers decide to write a musical for a New York musical theater festival in just three weeks in “[title of show]” — and yes, that’s the title of the show — 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday through Feb. 1 at the Weekend Theater, 1001 W. Seventh St. at Chester Street, Little Rock. centralarkansastickets.com/e/titleofshow.
Four middle-aged best friends seeking to start a business together buy a wedding venue, but chaos and comedy ensue when everything goes wrong in “The Second-to-Last Chance Ladies League,” a new sequel to “Always a Bridesmaid” by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, onstage through Feb. 7 at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse, 6323 Colonel Glenn Road, Little Rock. Buffet opens 30 minutes before curtain time. — 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday (but 12:45 p.m. matinees only Jan. 28), 12:45 and 6:45 p.m. Sunday. (501) 562-3131; murrysdp.com.
ART AND EXHIBITS
New this week:
“My Creeks,” recent works by Fayetteville painter and illustrator Daniel Coston, opens with a 6-8 p.m. reception with light refreshments, Friday at Cantrell Gallery, 8202 Cantrell Road, Little Rock. The paintings, on display through April 18, “reflect a fondness for creeks that has been with me since I was old enough to explore on my own,” Coston explains in an artist’s statement. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. (501) 224-1335; cantrellgallery.com.
“Color Our Library: A 2025 NLRPLS Staff Exhibition,” works created by members of the North Little Rock Public Library System staff, goes on display with a 5-7 p.m. reception Friday in the Laman Gallery at the William F. Laman Public Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock. It’s up through Jan. 31, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday-Saturday. (501) 758-1720; NLRlibrary.org.
Continuing:
“Disfarmer: Portraits of Rural Arkansas,” early 20th-century black-and-white portraits of Arkansans by Mike Disfarmer, is up through June, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, at the Old State House Museum, 300 W. Markham St., Little Rock. (501) 324-9685.
“Thomas Hart Benton,” a traveling exhibition of original artwork created by the artist during World War II, is up through July 31 at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 376-4602; littlerock.gov/macarthur.
At the ESSE Purse Museum & Store, 1510 Main St., Little Rock, “Henry and Nolan,” photographs by Rita Henry and Nancy Nolan along with their collections of cameras, photography tools and materials, plus a special art installation, on display through Feb. 1. (501) 916-9022.
“Under A Restless Sky,” a site-specific installation by Boston-based artist Nathalie Miebach, on display through April 4 in the Jackson T. Stephens Gallery of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. The three-dimensional art installation, created with paint, paper, wood, ropes and other materials that explores how various species — birds and humans — move and adapt due to environmental and climate changes, (501) 372-4000; arkmfa.org.
And “Kuimeaux’s World,” drawings and paintings by late Little Rock native Dwight “Kuimeaux” Drennan, is on display through spring 2027 at Little Rock’s Historic Arkansas Museum, 200 E. Third St. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 324-9351.
