U of A Students, Faculty and Staff Help "Make Gridiron Grate Again"

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The marquee of the Victory Theatre in Rogers.

The Northwest Arkansas Gridiron Show will take the stage Friday and Saturday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, at the Arkansas Public Theater at the Victory in Rogers, formerly the Rogers Little Theater.

“Make Gridiron Grate Again” is the theme of the annual spoof of the year’s news events, written and performed by local journalists, former journalists, U of A journalism students, faculty and staff.

The Northwest Arkansas Society of Professional Journalists and the Fayetteville Branch of the American Association of University Women co-produce the show.

Profits from the production will fund U of A journalism scholarships, the Single Parent Scholarship Fund, the AAUW scholarship at the University of Arkansas, and the AAUW Educational Foundation and Legal Advocacy Fund. The show will also benefit the Arkansas Public Theater building fund. A portion of the ticket price is tax deductible.

Tickets are $25 each. There will also be a cash bar, and snacks will be for sale at the theater. Tickets may be purchased with a credit card from the Arkansas Public Theater.

A direct link to the online box office is available at nwagridiron.com.

Tickets will also be available from members of AAUW and SPJ and at the door while seats last

Doors open at 6:45 p.m. for general seating. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.

Kent Eikenberry, CEO of the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank, will emcee the show this year. The Food Bank is providing vans to collect nonperishable foods before all performances of the show.

Local singer/songwriter/musician Emily Kaitz is once again the musical director.

The production spoofs lots of local news to balance out the strong interest in this year’s presidential race, including Chancellor Joe Steinmetz’ bus tour, the Pokemon Go! craze on campus and the debate over expanding Razorback Stadium.

For more information about the Gridiron, go online to nwagridiron.com.

The Arkansas Public Theater at the Victory (formerly Rogers Little Theater) is located at 116 S. Second Street in downtown Rogers.  From Interstate 49, take the Walnut Street exit (Highway 71B), exit 85. Go east about 2.6 miles to North Second Street. Turn right on North Second (south). The theater is half a block down on the right (west).

Patrons are invited to park diagonally along the streets adjacent to the building. Nearby public lots are located at Second and Elm streets (1/2 block from the theater), around the corner mid-block on Walnut between Second and Third streets; and in Frisco Park.

Special seating for patrons in wheelchairs is available. Please inform box office personnel before you come about any needs.