A Weekend of Music, Drama and History in Fayetteville

The Australian Chamber Orchestra arrives in town with a fresh piece called “Horizon, ” written by composer John Luther Adams. The group, led by violinist and conductor Richard Tognetti, will perform the work during its tour, including a show at 8 p. m. Saturday night in Walton Arts Center on W. Dickson Street. The concert will also feature a mix of older classics: Purcell’s “Fantazia upon One Note, ” Handel’s Concerto Grosso in A major, a modern arrangement of Vaughan Williams’ “The Lark Ascending, ” and Tognetti’s own version of Schubert’s “Death and the Maiden. ” Tickets are priced at ten dollars. In theatre, a new adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Pride & Prejudice” opens Wednesday at TheatreSquared in Fayetteville. The production is a collaboration with the University of Arkansas, giving students from the 2026 class starring roles. The show runs nightly and on weekends until May 10 in T2’s West Theatre, with tickets ranging from fifteen to sixty dollars. Special discounts are available for students, young patrons and SNAP recipients through the Lights Up! For Access program. The Arkansas premiere of “Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical” debuts at the Haislip Theatre on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock campus. The musical, a spoof of the TV series “Stranger Things, ” is set in 1983 and carries a PG‑13 rating. Admission is free but requires reservations.Actors Theatre of Little Rock presents August Wilson’s “Fences” at the Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church. The play, which earned Wilson a Tony and Pulitzer, runs through early May with tickets starting at twenty‑five dollars for seniors, military and students. A family‑friendly show, “The Cat in the Hat — Live on Stage! ” tours North Little Rock. The 50‑minute performance, based on the Seuss classic, is aimed at children three and older but also appeals to adults. Tickets cost between forty‑five and sixty dollars, with concessions available. Blue Man Group will perform in Fayetteville on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at the Walton Arts Center. Prices range from forty‑six to one hundred three dollars, depending on seat availability. On a different note, the Clinton Presidential Center hosts a discussion titled “Founding Friends, Founding Foes: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. ” The event examines the complex friendship and rivalry between the two presidents as part of a national series marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The free session begins at six p. m. on Wednesday, followed by a conversation hour at Lost Forty Brewing where attendees can use special discussion cards and receive a commemorative pint glass.