ARTS & CULTURE
By Anna Buie | Photos courtesy of Walton Arts Center
Experience a Johnny Cash Concert Like Never Before
JOHNNY CASH – The Official Concert Experience, coming to Walton Arts Center Oct. 14-15, brings songs and stories from the “Man in Black” to the stage in an innovative way that you’ve never seen or heard before.
The only show officially endorsed by the Cash estate, this new production uses performance clips from episodes of “The Johnny Cash TV Show” projected above the stage while a live band and singers accompany him perfectly in sync.
Cash’s music is loved by generations of fans, and now you can experience Cash performing some of his biggest hits, including “Folsom Prison Blues,” “Ring of Fire” and “I Walk the Line,” and listen as he shares stories of people he met whose causes he championed — the working man from all walks of life. His powerful statements on love, forgiveness, life and death spoke across time and generation, and still do today.
“This brand-new concert experience will bring my father and his music back to fans around the world,” said John Carter Cash, who will be performing on stage during the show.
Born in rural eastern Arkansas, Cash became one of the most important, influential and respected artists in the history of recorded music. From the monumental live prison albums to his commentary on the American spirit and human condition to a mesmerizing canon of gospel recordings, his impact on our culture is profound and continuing.
JOHNNY CASH – The Official Concert Experience isn’t just making a stop at Walton Arts Center, it is holding technical rehearsals and launching a national tour from Cash’s home state. “Teching” is when all the actors, designers, creatives and crew put the technical elements of the show in place, including sets, lights, costumes and the orchestra, to prepare a show for its life on the road.
The process cannot be completed in a rehearsal space. It requires a full-scale theater and a live audience to get the show ready. Watching and listening to the reactions of the first audiences gives the artistic staff information about parts of the show that need a bit more work. These initial performances are an integral part of the theatrical process and one in which few audiences get to participate.
Producers looking to tech and mount a tour view Walton Arts Center as a resource, which speaks volumes about the organization’s reputation in the industry. Teching is also a huge benefit to the economy of Northwest Arkansas because when a cast of 25-75 people spend two weeks in town, they support local hotels, restaurants, stores and more.
Be the first audience to experience this unforgettable concert experience honoring Arkansas’ own music legend. There are two opportunities to see it, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. and Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $35 to $65.
Lee Rocker
Coming in October:
Tanya Tucker | Oct. 4, 7 p.m.
Jeff Lorber Fusion Trio | Oct. 13, 7:30 p.m.
Danielle Nicole Band | Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m.
Andy Woodhull | Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m.
The Capitol Fools | Oct. 26, 7 p.m.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Halloween Party | Oct. 30, 8 p.m.
Joe Bonamassa | Nov. 1, 8 p.m.
As We Speak: Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain and Edgar Meyer | Nov. 4, 8 p.m.
