FUN
Six area artists will “transform the underbelly” of the East Sixth Street railroad bridge in Little Rock’s East Village for MuralFest, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. Starting at 11 a.m., a lineup of area musicians that includes Leta Joyner, Steven Boyster and Don Doc and the Devine, with a DJ set by Deja Blu, will perform at The Rail Yard, 1212 E. Sixth St., Little Rock. Also at the Rail Yard will be kids zone activities including a bounce house. Karaoke with a DJ starts at 8 p.m. littlerock.com/events/mural-fest.
MUSIC
The Metropolitan Opera production of Gabriela Lena Frank’s opera, “El Último Sueño de Frida y Diego,” hits big screens, including the Movie Tavern in Little Rock, noon Saturday as part of the Met: Live in HD series. The opera’s surreal plot imagines Frida Kahlo (mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard) returning from the underworld on the Mexican Day of the Dead to confront her unfaithful husband, Diego Rivera (baritone Carlos Álvarez) and relive their tumultuous love. The opera is sung in Spanish. metopera.org/season/in-cinemas.
The Southern Soul Lovers Tour — featuring Sir Charles Jones, Cecily Wilborn, Marcellus The Singer, Anthony Q, Tonio Armani, EJ Jones and Young Guy, takes the stage at 7 p.m., Friday at Robinson Center Performance Hall, 426 W. Markham St. (501) 244-8800.
THEATER
The Arkansas Repertory Theatre, 601 Main St., Little Rock, is staging “Steel Magnolias,” Robert Harling’s play about life, love and resilience in the Deep South, 7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday through June 7. Tonight’s performance is the last of three previews. TheRep.org.
When a conservative radio host announces that he and his wife will renew their vows in Sin City, all the residents of Tuna (all played by only two actors) come along for the ride in “Tuna Does Vegas,” the latest in the “Greater Tuna” series, It’s onstage through June 27 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 12:30 Wednesday matinees only June 3 and 10), 12:45 and 6:45 Sunday. (501) 562-3131; murrysdp.com.
ART AND EXHIBITS
New this week:
“Arkansas Black Voices: Shaping a Nation at 250,” highlighting “the powerful stories and lasting impact of Black Arkansans whose lives and legacies have helped shape the United States,” opens today Thursday at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, 501 W. Ninth St. The exhibit, in partnership with the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame, includes personal histories, artifacts, photographs and stories. It’s up through Aug. 29. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday- Saturday. (501) 683-3593; mosaictemplarscenter.com.
“Manufacturing Victory in Arkansas: Supplying the Battlefront and Changing the Homefront During World War II,” “highlight(ing) the role and contributions of ordnance plants in Arkansas during the war,” opens with a reception celebrating the 25th anniversary of the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, 4:30-7 p.m. todayThursday at the museum, 503 E. Ninth St., Little Rock. Attendees can consume birthday cake and light refreshments. It remains up through Dec. 31, 2027. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. (501) 376-4602.
Continuing:
“The Art of Friendship,” watercolors by Kim Perkins and Laura Powers, up through July 25 in the Gallery at the William F. Laman Library, 2801 Orange St., North Little Rock. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday and Saturday. (501) 758-1720 or visit NLRlibrary.org.
“From the Loft,” mixed-media works by Little Rock artist Ally Cantrell, is up through June 5 at the Argenta Library Gallery, 420 Main St., North Little Rock. Gallery hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Admission to the reception and the gallery is free. (501) 687-1061; NLRlibrary.org.
“Will Barnet: Seasons of Life,” works on paper by Barnet from the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts Foundation Collection, is on display through Oct. 11 at the museum, 501 E. Ninth St., Little Rock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. amfa.org.
“Remote Wonder: Richland Creek Wilderness,” recent photographs by Paul Caldwell centering on Richland Creek, a tributary of the Buffalo River, up through July 18 at Cantrell Gallery, 8202 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. (501) 224-1335; cantrellgallery.com.
“The Three SoMa Sisters: History, Nature, Wellness, and Anita Davis’ Mission to Thrive in SoMa” is on display through Aug. 30 at ESSE Museum & Store, 1510 Main St. in Little Rock’s SoMa neighborhood. (501) 916-9022; essepursemuseum.com.
Hearne Fine Art, 1001 Wright Ave., Little Rock, is showing “Women Create Space. Grace. Power: A Multimedia Survey of Thirteen Black Women Artists,” through June 13. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. (501) 372-6822; hearnefineart.com.
“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 in 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.
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.
