A&E Advisory for Aug. 14-23: Something for every taste

Aug 14-23
Theater: Auditions for Scrooge
FORT SMITH — With a little more than four months left till the holidays, it’s not too soon to start planning those heart-warming stage plays and laughable Christmas pageants.

The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Academy of the Arts starts auditions tonight for Scrooge the Musical and will continue through Aug. 28. Try-outs are 6-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday of this week and next. (Aug. 14, 16, 21 and 23). Directors Shannon Stoddard, Sheila Mann and Jennifer Woodside Anderson need no more than 30 students in grades 6-12. No previous acting experience is required.

Inquiries can be made at (479) 788-7252. Audition forms can be downloaded here. Scrooge the Musical is a production by the Xtreme Teenz Musical Theatre Company through the Academy.

Performance dates include matinees at 2 p.m. Nov. 10 and 11 and a 7 p.m. show on Nov. 10 only.

Aug. 16
Food: Taste of Crawford County
VAN BUREN — All diets should be set aside for one day, Thursday, for the Taste of Crawford County, an event in which two dozen or so local restaurants and food vendors gather at Van Buren High School to allow the public to sample their best.

Two sessions are available: From 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and then 5-7 p.m. The event also includes a silent auction.

The opportunity to get advance tickets has passed, but one can still pay $15 at the door to enjoy the fun. Proceeds will benefit Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Crawford County. Call (479) 474-6164
or click here for details.

Aug. 17-19
Eye candy: Konsplosion!
FORT SMITH — It’s billed as a one-of-a-kind convention for kids and young adults — Konsplosion! — Friday through Monday at the Fort Smith Convention Center. Those interested in anime, comics, sci-fi, fantasy, gaming, LARP (live-action role-playing game) have the ability to make fast friends at this event.

It’s colorful, it’s seemingly harmless and it looks like a great way for players, artists and listeners to gobble up huge chunks of their time without even noticing.

The first day includes opening ceremonies, plus a “Dr. Horrible Sing-Along,” a costume contest and a burlesque show for those 18 and up (warnings posted on the Konsplosion.com website makes it clear that organizers plan to take every possible precaution to keep the younger kids from attending events they shouldn’t.)

Saturday’s activities: a rock band competition (earplugs not included), a showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, foam armor crafting and speed dating  (not to be confused with geek speed friending, which is also a scheduled activity.

With activities going on in different breakout rooms, it seems there’ll always something to do. One can visit the zombie shooting range, take in an economics rant on My Little Pony or join in a panel/group discussion about Star Wars v. Star Trek. Costumes are not required but make it all the more fun.

Admission is $18-$35. More information, if you dare, can be found here.

Aug. 17
Libations: Party with a purpose
FORT SMITH — What kind of apps go with tequila? You’ll have to attend the second annual Fest of Ale Friday to find out.

The fundraiser for Girls Inc. is set for the Holiday Inn Ballroom form 6-9 p.m. A beer tasting comes with the $35 ticket price. But you’ll have to be a VIP — and pay $50 a head — to get the tequila. It’s hosted by Glidewell Distributing and Burford Distributing.

Call (479) 782-0622 for more information.