What's Up! NWA and River Valley

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. 

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 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. 

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.

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 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 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.

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.  

"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.

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.