By Emma Bracken

All across Northwest Arkansas, the arts are thriving and creating a place for people to come together and access their community. Specifically, the theaters across the region are filled with families, friends and strangers, spending precious moments together before the stage. 

As the holiday season approaches, the theaters are as packed as ever, as people flock to the exciting shows and performances this time of year brings. From Broadway tours and celebrity appearances to local productions and orchestras, the performing arts scene is colorful and has something for everyone to enjoy. 

In December, these theaters are bursting with new shows and performances based around the holidays and in line with their regular talent. The theaters are busier than ever, as people find comfort in the familiar classics showcased by local actors and musicians each year during this season. TheatreSquared has a long-running tradition of showing “A Christmas Carol,” which brings in a wave of guests each year. Even those who are not regular theatergoers cannot seem to resist the appeal of these nostalgic shows at this time of year. 

Andrea Newby, director of marketing and communications at TheatreSquared, explained the impact this holiday tradition has on the community. As the seats in the theater fill, so do our community spaces. Even if it is just to grab dinner or drinks at TheatreSquared’s cafe and bar, the effect of these shows is apparent from the bustling crowds.

“Loved ones definitely find time to get together here for the show,” Newby said.

As well as providing a physical space for families and friends to gather during the holiday seasons, these theaters also provide an opportunity for them to connect to one another emotionally. Newby explained that through engaging with local theater, people are able to access this dynamic art form that grows empathy, stimulates dialogue about important conversations and encourages critical thinking. 

Theater shapes its patrons into more well-rounded people. Many of these shows are rooted in human experience and the complexity of relationships; just by watching them, you grow closer to the person sitting in the seat beside you. Theater is an art form that is entirely built upon a love for real human connection.

“I love that theater acts as a mirror, reflecting our own experiences and challenges and as a window, offering new perspectives,” Newby said. 

There is access to connection in the theater that is hard to find elsewhere, as audience members are invited to explore other people’s perspectives as well as their own through these powerful productions. Getting to know the characters as well as the actors opens doors for us into spaces we may not have been before. 

“I feel that theatre holds a unique value in Northwest Arkansas as it offers cultural engagement, education and inspiration,” Newby said.

The performing arts scene informs much of what has become the creative culture of our region. Jennifer Wilson, public relations director at Walton Arts Center, described theater as an epicenter for community activity in Fayetteville. Wilson explained the global scale of productions at Walton Arts Center, which brings in from around the world.

“We believe in the transformative power of the arts to not only entertain but also to inspire, connect, educate, bridge differences, increase understanding and build better communities,” Wilson said. 

In bringing the voices of the world to Northwest Arkansas, our community is enriched and brought to life. Through theater, Arkansas residents are exposed to stories both new and familiar. In deepening our understanding of each other’s stories, we not only become a stronger community but better people. 

Though these theaters bring in passionate patrons of the arts and regular enjoyers of theater, many people just come for a special occasion, especially around the holidays. Even in just seeing one show a year, there is something in the experience of a live performance that touches everyone. Wilson described the joy of seeing children come to Walton Arts Center and experience their first-ever live show, rather than just watching a story unfold on a screen. There is something special about this type of experience, one that even children feel connected to. 

“Watching that makes all of the hard days worth it,” Wilson said. 

Newby recalled her own personal history with theater, which taught her creativity and confidence. This transferred both to her on-presence and in her off-stage life as well. Whether you act in or watch these shows from afar, there is something in the vulnerable art of performance that brings us closer to each other and closer to ourselves as well. 

“In my opinion, each performance invites the community to explore complex issues, celebrate creativity and enjoy shared experiences,” Newby said. “This makes Northwest Arkansas a more inviting, informed and inspired place to live.”

Both TheatreSquared and Walton Arts Center offer something special to the community and are ready for the holiday season to bring in people from all over the area. This time of year is a moment to step back from the bustle of daily life and spend time with the people we care about. Likewise, it is a time to nourish both our relationships to one another and ourselves. The holidays can often feel stressful or isolating, and it is important to find those spaces where we bridge gaps and find comfort. In Northwest Arkansas, the theater scene opens its arms to all of this and more, creating a foundation for our community to grow stronger and more connected.