Shatner, Kix and Runaway tuxes invade NWA

William Shatner and Kix Brooks are coming to town, opera takes "Flight," and tuxes are on the run in Northwest Arkansas this January.

Opera Fayetteville Presents "Flight"
Opera Fayetteville will present Jonathan Dove's comic opera "Flight" Jan. 10 and 12. Audience members will experience fine music and funny antics, as they witness a group of travelers deal with being trapped together overnight in an airport.

Two performances will be held. The opera will debut on Jan. 10 at 7:30 p.m., with a second show following on Jan. 12 at 3 p.m. Both performances will take place at the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall at the University of Arkansas.

Tickets can be purchased in advance online for $18, or at the door for $25.

My Faraway One: Letters of O'Keeffe and Stieglitz
Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art will host Sarah Greenough, Senior Curator of Photographs at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. for a special lecture on legendary art couple, Alfred Stieglitz and Georgia O'Keeffe on Jan. 11.

Her presentation will explain how she arranged and selected more than 650 letters from the 5,000 pieces of correspondence between the pair for her most recently acclaimed book, “My Faraway One: Selected Letters of Georgia O'Keeffe and Alfred Stielglitz, Volume 1, 1915-1933.”

Greenough will detail the couple's relationship over the course of several decades, including insights into their "passionate affair and marriage, their long distance relationship…and closing in the wee hours of New Year's day 1934, when Stieglitz was seventy years of age."

The lecture is in conjunction with the museum's current exhibition, "The Artists' Eye: Georgia O'Keeffe and the Alfred Stielglitz Collection," which is on display through Feb. 3.

The program will begin at 4 p.m. in Crystal Bridges' Great Hall. A  book signing reception will follow the lecture. Copies of the book will be available for sale in the Museum Store.

Admission to the lecture is free for members and $10 for non-members. Tickets can be purchased at Guest Services or online.

Shatner's World
The Walton Arts Center will welcome legendary actor William Shatner to its stage on Jan. 11. Known for his famous roles as Captain Kirk and "Boston Legal's" Denny Crane, Shatner will give a special performance filled with adult-humor and stories from his long-spanning career.

The show will begin at 8 p.m. A special meet-and-greet session will also be held that evening. Tickets are available for purchase online. Those interested in meeting Shatner should contact the Box Office at 479-443-5600 to learn about the V.I.P. package.

Sharing and Caring Movie Night
Take in a good movie for a good cause at the Sharing and Caring of Benton County film premier event on Jan. 15.

The evening will feature the film "Ambush at Dark Canyon," starring country music singer Kix Brooks as U.S. Marshal Duke Donovan. In the movie, the marshal is accused of bank robbery, and while imprisoned, discovers his partner is plotting to kill his wife. Donovan seeks to escape in time to save her life and clear his name.

The movie will be shown at the Pinnacle Hills Malco Theater in Rogers beginning at 7 p.m. Kix Brooks will be a special guest that evening.

Tickets are $10 and include admission to the movie, popcorn and a drink. All proceeds benefit Sharing and Caring of Benton County, which seeks "to brighten the holidays of children" by providing clothing, shoes, toys, and other special needs through the generosity of sponsors and donors. To reserve a seat, call 479-657-6884.

Winter Wonderland YMCA Tux on the Run Penguin Race
The NWA Mercy Family YMCA will host its annual "Tux on the Run Penguin Race" on Jan. 17. The 5k event will feature fun costumes and a frigid run on the YMCA grounds.

Registration will begin at 9 a.m., with the race to follow at 10 a.m. The 5k will begin at the YMCA in Rogers and run throughout area trails and sidewalks. This year's event will be chip-timed.

Awards will be given to the overall male and female finishers and to the top three male and females in each age division. "Best Dressed" prizes will also be awarded for Best Scarf, Best Formal Attire, and Best Embodiment of the Theme.

Registration is $25, if completed by Jan. 13, and $30 from Jan. 14-16. Participants can sign up online. For more information, contact Ashton Caton at 479-273-9622.