ARTS & CULTURE
By Kaydith Maddox | Photos courtesy of Walton Arts Center
Start 2026 with These Smash Broadway Hits and Icons
Walton Arts Center’s stage is full of big-name Broadway leading men and shows with big drama in January and February. Pick your favorite (or two) and start your year off right!
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On Jan. 23 at 8 p.m., Richard Thomas brings to life “the nation’s one true comic genius,” according to The New York Times, in Mark Twain Tonight!, written and originally performed by Hal Holbrook. Join the millions who have cheered for the legendary one-man show, bursting with Twain’s “uproariously funny” and “pungently wise” humor, said Time Magazine. Thomas is the first and only actor authorized to perform the play since the original production with Holbrook. Thomas gave a riveting performance as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird in 2024. Now watch him take on another iconic American figure in this production. Tickets start at $44.85.
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Tony-winning Broadway legend and Emmy-winning TV star Mandy Patinkin presents his new show, JUKEBOX,featuring pianist Adam Ben-David on Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. Renowned for creating timeless characters in movies such as The Princess Bride, Yentl and Dick Tracy, this concert features Patinkin’s curation of classical musical numbers, expressed as only he can through a unique mastery of word and song.
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Join us for a special evening of story and song with Norbert Leo Butz, two-time Tony Award winner and the original Fiyero in the Broadway production of Wicked, on Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. Butz sings highlights from his three decades on Broadway and original compositions from his four solo records. In addition to Fiyero, Butz has originated six other Broadway roles. As one of only nine actors to win a Tony Award twice for best actor in a Broadway musical, he is sure to put on a memorable performance. Tickets are $10.
Be Our Guest at the 30th Anniversary Tour of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, onstage Feb. 3-8. Members of the original creative team have reunited to bring this enchanting and timeless tale to life in a breathtaking musical filled with the romance and spectacle audiences know and love. Limited tickets remain for this tale as old as time, so act fast to secure your spot!
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From Feb. 24 through March 1, a critically acclaimed bestselling novel comes to life in a unique, spectacle-filled new musical, Water for Elephants. After losing what matters most, a young man jumps a moving train, unsure of where the road will take him, and finds a new home with the remarkable crew of a traveling circus as well as a life — and love — beyond his wildest dreams. Seen through the eyes of his older self, his adventure becomes a poignant reminder that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age.
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Reserve a spot now for these performances you don’t want to miss! Tickets are available at www.waltonartscenter.org, by calling (479) 443-5600 weekdays 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. or in person at the Walton Arts Center Box Office weekdays 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Upcoming Show Dates & Times
Meredith Willson’s The Music Man | Jan. 16-18 | 4 performances
German Cornejo’s Tango After Dark | Jan. 21 at 7 p.m.
The Choir of Man | Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.
The Comedy Zone: Aida Rodriguez | Jan. 31 at 8 p.m.
The Simon & Garfunkel Story | Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. | Limited tickets remain
Starrlight Jazz Club: Michael Mayo | Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m.