Arkansas Public Theatre begins its 37^th season at the Victory Theater with the first performance set for mid-September. Season 37 Memberships include tickets to all Main Stage Performances in the 2022-2023 season with early access to your favorite seats and complementary tickets to the Season 38 Preview Party. Members are also able to receive complementary ticket exchanges 24 hours before showtime. Patrons may contact the theater by phone or online to become sponsors or purchase season tickets. Individual ticket sales for each performance are released a few weeks prior to each opening based on availability. Tickets are available at arkansaspublictheatre.org or call 479-631-8988. Tickets range in price from $20-$45. Doors open at 1 hour before shows start.

Season 37 begins with The Music Man, book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson. A six time Tony Award winning musical comedy about fast talking traveling salesman, Harold Hill and his efforts to con the stubborn citizens of River City into purchasing instruments and uniforms for a boys band until romance gets in his way. This beloved play is a joy for every generation. Performances are September 16-18, 22-25, 29-30, October 1-2, 2022.

Next up, Almost, Maine, by John Cariano. Almost, Maine is so far north, it’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, the residents never got that organized. As the northern lights glitter overhead residents fall in and out of love in this delightful midwinter night’s dream. Performances are October 28-30, November 3-6, 2022.

Christmas is celebrated with A Tuna Christmas by Ed Howard, Joe Sears and Jaston Williams. In the 3^rd smallest town in Texas, OKKK radio station reports on the hilarious Yuletide activities taking place, such as the annual lawn display contest and a production of A Christmas Carol  jeopardized by unpaid electric bills. A holiday experience for the whole family! Performances are December 9-11, 15-18, 2022.

Brightening February will be the smash musical hit, Little Shop of Horrors, book by Howard Ashman, music by Alen Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman. Meek floral assistant Seymour Krelborn stumbles across a new breed of plant he names "Audrey II" - after his coworker crush. The foul-mouthed, R&B-singing carnivore promises unending fame and fortune to the down and out Krelborn as long as he keeps feeding it BLOOD. Performances are February 10-12, 16-19, 23-26, 2023.

 March brings the world premiere of Survival of the Unfit by Oren Safdie. The play centers around Samuel, a 38-year-old substitute teacher/Uber Driver/ supermarket bagger/hair stylist, still living at home with his parents. When Samuel’s new girlfriend shows up you begin to understand the underlying dysfunction that has held him back from growing up. The play touches on love, loss, loyalty, accepting others for their shortcomings and redefines what family means. Performances are March 24-26, 30-31, April 1-2, 2023.

The Shadow Box, by Michael Cristofer, is a compelling dramatic triptych about three terminal patients who dwell in separate cottages on a hospital's grounds. The three are attended and visited by family and close friends and examines how all of their lives are affected by not only the patients themselves but how they affect the issues in their own lives. Performances are May 5-7, 11-13, 2023

Sylvia by A. R. Gurney. Greg and Kate have moved to Manhattan after twenty-two years of child-raising in the suburbs. Greg’s career is winding down, while Kate’s career, is beginning to offer her more opportunities. When Greg brings home a street smart lab poodle mix dog he finds in the park, named Sylvia, their marriage is put in serious jeopardy until Greg and Kate learn to compromise. Performances are June 16-17, 22-25, 2023.

Season 37 ends on a musical note with It Shoulda Been You, book and lyrics by Brian Hargrove, music by Barbara Anselmi, additional Lyrics by Michael Cooper, Will Randall, Carla Rose Fisher, Ernie Lijoi, and Jill Abramovitz. Based on a concept by Barbara Anselmi. It Shoulda Been You invites you to a wedding day that you'll never forget, where the bride is Jewish and the groom is Catholic. Her mother is a force of nature and his is a tempest in a cocktail shaker. Say hello to an ex-boyfriend and good bye perfect wedding! Its up to the sister of the bride to save the day in this new musical comedy. Performances are July 28-30, August 3-6, 10-13, 2023.

Tickets are available at arkansaspublictheatre.org or call 479-631-8988. Tickets range in price from $20-$45. Doors open at 1 hour before shows start.

GET INVOLVED WITH ARKANSAS PUBLIC THEATRE

For the past thirty six years, Arkansas Public Theater has been a community-based organization that believes in the performing arts as an essential part of a healthy community and creative economy. They began as a small theatre group putting on plays wherever their productions were welcome. Now, as our name proudly states, their permanent home is Arkansas Public Theatre at The Victory in historic Downtown Rogers. Each of the 36 previous seasons shaped the organization into one that presents Broadway-caliber productions with all volunteer actors, directors, designers and technicians from our vibrant region. APT is made up of talented individuals from our community. Interested persons are always invited to audition for plays. 

If you want to be part of the theater but acting isn’t your thing, there are many ways to support the theater through memberships and volunteering for various roles that are all important to providing the best shows possible. Please check the website at arkansaspublictheatre.org for opportunities or call 479-631-8988 for information on how you can be a part of APT. You are welcome to become a part of the APT whether you let your talents shine in the spotlight, work behind the scenes, volunteer at the concession stand, seat patrons or sit back in a comfortable seat in the audience. You may also promote and support the programming through your social media likes, shares and word of mouth. 

ABOUT THE VICTORY THEATER

The Victory Theater, located at 116 S. 2nd Street in Downtown Rogers, was designed by noted Rogers architect A.O. Clarke and first opened in December 1927. The theater served as a community gathering place and was renovated several times as a movie and vaudeville theater before closing its doors in the early 1970s. In 2008, with generous help from the Wal-Mart Foundation, contributions from civic-minded donors and the effort of tireless volunteers, the City of Rogers purchased the Victory Theater with an agreement that it would serve as the long-term home of the Arkansas Public Theatre.

For the past thirty years we have been a community-based organization that believes in the performing arts as an essential part of a healthy community and economy. We began as a small theatre group putting on plays wherever our productions were welcome. Now, as our name proudly states, we are Arkansas Public Theatre at The Victory in historic downtown Rogers. Each of the 30 previous seasons shaped the organization into one that presents Broadway-caliber productions with volunteer actors, directors, designers and technicians from our vibrant region. We’re thankful to our season members, donors and partners, and ticket holders. Your continual support is vital to the existence of APT. Our future promises greater community development and initiatives, while maintaining our productions’ relevancy in keeping our community alive and inspired. APT is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.