The Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASUMH) Performing Arts Series is celebrating its 15th season with a diverse lineup of performances, including pop-rock band Smash Mouth and the acrobatic Cirque Mechanics. The series runs from September through March at the Coulter Performing Arts Center located in the Vada Sheid Community Development Center.
Tickets open to the public on August 17, with early access available to donors through a revised patronage program implemented for the season.
The season opens with “Artrageous” on September 23 at 7 p.m., presented by the Haley Cultural Arts Endowment. Smash Mouth is set to perform on October 30 at 7 p.m., followed by “Uptown: A Celebration of Motown and Soul” on November 5 at 7 p.m. Author John T. Edge will appear on November 19 at 6 p.m. as part of the Gaston Lecture Series. The festive “Christmas with the Nelsons,” presented by the Coulter Holiday Endowment, takes place on December 13 at 3 p.m.
The season continues in 2024 with “Jonathan Blanchard: From History to Hip-Hop” on February 24 at 6 p.m., part of the Arvest Concert Series, and concludes with Cirque Mechanics on March 7 at 7 p.m.
Donors can begin selecting seats based on their sponsorship level, with the highest tiers choosing first. The seat-selection timeline began on July 13 for donors at the $5,000-and-up level, followed by additional tiers in subsequent weeks, ending with $250 patrons on August 10. Returning patrons must reselect seats as reservations from the prior season do not carry over.
The revised sponsorship program offers benefits such as season tickets, reserved parking, meet-and-greet opportunities, and access to the patron reception, which is now tiered based on sponsorship level. Sponsorships range from $250 to $10,000 or more.
The series, which started in 2011, is curated by the ASUMH Performing Arts Council, a volunteer group that evaluates and selects performances. This year’s council is chaired by Caroline Carroll, with members Tami Barrow, Denise Clarke, Kelly Householder-Giuliano, Jeff Quick, Katie Risk, Gayla Thompson, Terre Ware, and Lang Zimmerman. According to ASUMH, ticket sales account for approximately half of the series’ total budget.
Tickets can be purchased online at thesheid.com through iTickets, by phone at (870) 508-6280 or (800) 965-9324, or in person at the box office, open weekdays and one hour before performances. For patron-specific inquiries, contact Kasey Bass at (870) 508-6280 or by email at kbass@asumh.edu.