Friday–Saturday, April 10–11 & 17–18, 7:00PM Sunday, April 12 & 19, 2:00PM
The Ozark Arts Council and NorthArk Drama present 3-time Tony Award-Winning Next to Normal performed at the Historic 1929 Lyric Theater April 10–11 and 17–18 at 7:00PM, April 12 and 19 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (55+) and students, and $11 for children (11 and under), when bought in advance; prices rise $4 if purchased at the door—$19 for adults, $17 for seniors and students, and $15 for children. Tickets will be on sale soon!
Next to Normal, with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt, explores how one suburban household copes with crisis and mental illness. Winner of three 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Score and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize, Next to Normal was also chosen as “one of the year’s ten best shows” by critics around the country, including The Los AngelesTimes, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone and The New York Times.
Dad’s an architect; Mom rushes to pack lunches and pour cereal; their daughter and son are bright, wise-cracking teens, appearing to be a typical American family. And yet their lives are anything but normal because the mother has been battling bipolar disorder for 16 years. Next to Normaltakes audiences into the minds and hearts of each character, presenting their family’s story with love, sympathy and heart.
This deeply moving piece of theatre provides a wonderful opportunity for performers to explore dramatic material and showcase vocal talents with an energetic pop/rock score. Next to Normal is an emotional powerhouse that addresses such issues as grieving a loss, ethics in modern psychiatry, and suburban life and is ideal for community theatres, as well as colleges and regional theatre companies.
Join us at the Lyric for Next to Normal April 10–11 and 17–18 at 7:00PM, April 12 and 19 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (55+) and students, and $11 for children (11 and under), when bought in advance; prices rise $3 if purchased at the door—$18 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, and $14 for children. #LiveAtTheLyric. When tickets go on sale, they will be available here at TheLyric.org or by clicking any “Get Tickets” link.
Heavy Wrecker & Friends Tribute to Eric Clapton Saturday, November 1, 2025 at 7:00PM
Join us on November 1 at 7:00, as Billy, Will, and Dustin—Heavy Wrecker—have done it again: they’ve once again assembled a fantastic ‘supergroup’ of local musicians and vocalists to pay tribute to Eric Clapton—the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—covering the great span of his music, both from his solo career and from his time in the Yardbirds, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos.
Ever since the Led Zeppelin tribute the band organized in 2019—which was the most successful concert of purely local musicians since Screamin’ Freeman’s 24-hour Guinness World Record concert in 1999!—Billy Youngblood and his crew have led the community into a growing appreciation of the historic Lyric Theater by paying tribute to the musical craftsman who have shaped their playing and our culture as a whole. The music of Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Tom Petty has made for a unifying showcase of the talents of several local bands, and now Eric Clapton’s music will do the same. This promises to be another experience Harrison area music lovers will talk about for years, and one well worth coming from out of town to see. Tickets are on sale now!
Featuring fabulous musicians and vocalists such as Beci Coffey, Julianna Hamblin, Greg James, Billy Youngblood, Kent Coffey, Keith Lee, Dustin Witty, Joshua Still, and Will Youngblood, this is sure to be a night you won’t want to miss!
Friday–Saturday, June 12–13 & 19–20, 7:00PM Sunday, Jun 14 & 21, 2:00PM
The Ozark Arts Council presents Peter and the Starcatcher performed at the Historic 1929 Lyric Theater June 12–13 and 19–20 at 7:00PM, June 14 and 21 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (55+) and students, and $11 for children (11 and under), when bought in advance; prices rise $4 if purchased at the door—$19 for adults, $17 for seniors and students, and $15 for children. Tickets will be on sale soon!
Tony-nominated Peter and the Starcatcher upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be The Boy Who Would Not Grow Up (a.k.a. Peter Pan). A wildly theatrical adaptation of Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson’s best-selling novels, the play was conceived for the stage by directors Roger Rees and Alex Timbers and written by Rick Elice with music by Wayne Barker. From marauding pirates and jungle tyrants to unwilling comrades and unlikely heroes, Peter and the Starcatcher playfully explores the depths of greed and despair and the bonds of friendship, duty, and love.
A young orphan and his mates are shipped off from Victorian England to a distant island ruled by the evil King Zarboff. They know nothing of the mysterious trunk in the captain’s cabin, containing a precious, otherworldly cargo. At sea, the boys are discovered by a precocious young girl named Molly, a Starcatcher-in-training, who realizes that the trunk’s precious cargo is starstuff, a celestial substance so powerful it must never fall into the wrong hands. When the ship is taken over by pirates – led by the fearsome Black Stache, a villain determined to claim the trunk and its treasure for his own – the journey quickly becomes a thrilling adventure.
Join us for Peter and the Starcatcher performed at the Historic 1929 Lyric Theater June 12–13 and 19–20 at 7:00PM, June 14 and 21 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (55+) and students, and $11 for children (11 and under), when bought in advance; prices rise $3 if purchased at the door—$18 for adults, $16 for seniors and students, and $14 for children. TICKETS ON SALE SOON! #LiveAtTheLyric. When tickets are available, they will be here at TheLyric.org or by clicking any “Get Tickets” link.
The Ozark Arts Council Presents: The Christmas Tree Farm
Thursday December 11, 6:00pm with charcuterie and dessert preceding Friday–Saturday, December 12–13, 6:00PM with a full dinner preceding Saturday–Sunday, December 13–14, 1:00PM with brunch preceding
The Christmas Tree Farm will be performed at Twelve Oaks Estate on December 11 at 6:00PM (preceded by charcuterie and dessert), Friday–Saturday December 12–13 at 6:00pm (preceded by a full dinner), and Saturday–Sunday December 13–14 at 1:00PM (preceded by brunch). Please note: there are 2 performances on Saturday at 1:00pm (for brunch) and 6:00pm (for dinner).
“Isn’t it nice when something delivers precisely on what it promises? THE CHRISTMAS TREE FARM … is just such a considerate holiday present. An 80-minute rom-com full of meet-cutes and holiday charm, the play is a yummy Christmas cookie of a holiday show. The play is fun and often adorable, but that is not to call it trivial or without substance: this is by no means a plot rolled off the Hallmark Channel assembly line. Instead, playwright Adam Szymkowicz turns a warm, thoughtful eye on the people, relationships, and unavoidable tensions that weave themselves through a local tree farm.” —NJ.com
A series of vignettes, mostly love stories, all take place at a Christmas tree farm owned by the narrator. From breakups to breakdowns, meet cutes to maybe too many Santas, this holiday play about love and joy will help put you in that holly jolly spirit while you get to feast on the delicious delights of Twelve Oaks dining.
The Christmas Tree Farm will be performed at Twelve Oaks Estate on December 11 at 6:00PM (preceded by charcuterie and dessert), Friday–Saturday December 12–13 at 6:00pm (preceded by a full dinner), and Saturday–Sunday December 13–14 at 1:00PM (preceded by brunch). Please note: there are 2 performances on Saturday at 1:00pm (for brunch) and 6:00pm (for dinner). Tickets on sale in November.
Friday–Saturday, November 14–15 & 21–22, 7:00PM Sunday, November 16 & 23, 2:00PM
The Ozark Arts Council presents Thornton Wilder’s Our Town performed at the Historic 1929 Lyric Theater November 14–15 and 21–22 at 7:00PM, November 16 and 23 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (55+) and students, and $11 for children (11 and under), when bought in advance; prices rise $4 if purchased at the door—$19 for adults, $17 for seniors and students, and $15 for children. Tickets will be on sale soon!
This edition of the play differs only slightly from previous acting editions, yet it presents Our Town as Thornton Wilder wished it to be performed. Described by Edward Albee as “the greatest American play ever written,” Our Town presents the small town of Grover’s Corners in three acts: “Daily Life,” “Love and Marriage” and “Death and Eternity.” Narrated by a stage manager and performed with minimal props and sets, the play depicts the simple daily lives of the Webb and Gibbs families as their children fall in love, marry, and eventually – in one of the most famous scenes in American theatre – die. Thornton Wilder’s final word on how he wanted his play performed is an invaluable addition to the American stage and to the libraries of theatre lovers internationally.
Join us at the Lyric for Our Town November 14–15 and 21–22 at 7:00PM, November 16 and 23 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (55+) and students, and $11 for children (11 and under), when bought in advance; prices rise $4 if purchased at the door—$19 for adults, $17 for seniors and students, and $15 for children. Tickets will be on sale soon!
Friday–Saturday September 26–27 & October 3–4, 7:00PM Sunday September 28 & October 5, 2:00PM
The Ozark Arts Council presents Disney’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, performed live at the Historic 1929 Lyric Theater September 26–27 and October 3–4 at 7:00PM, September 28 and October 5 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (55+) and students, and $11 for children (11 and under), when bought in advance; prices rise $4 if purchased at the door—$19 for adults, $17 for seniors and students, and $15 for children. Tickets are on sale now!
Winner of the Tony and the Drama Desk Awards for Best Book, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee has charmed audiences across the country with its effortless wit and humor. Featuring a fast-paced, wildly funny, and touching book by Rachel Sheinkin and a truly fresh and vibrant score by William Finn, this bee is one unforgettable experience.
An eclectic group of six mid-pubescents vie for the spelling championship of a lifetime. While candidly disclosing hilarious and touching stories from their home lives, the tweens spell their way through a series of (potentially made-up) words, hoping never to hear the soul-crushing, pout-inducing, life un-affirming “ding” of the bell that signals a spelling mistake. Six spellers enter; one speller leaves a champion! (At least the losers get a juice box!)
A riotous ride, complete with audience participation, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a delightful den of comedic genius. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a fast-paced crowd pleaser and an instant theatre patron favorite.
Join us at the Lyric for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee September 26–27 and October 3–4 at 7:00PM, September 28 and October 5 at 2:00PM. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (55+) and students, and $11 for children (11 and under), when bought in advance; prices rise $4 if purchased at the door—$19 for adults, $17 for seniors and students, and $15 for children. #LiveAtTheLyric!
Only those auditioning may be present, unless the auditioner is a minor.
Sides for cold reads will be chosen by the director.
Ages 8 and up ONLY.
The Story
Our Town will be performed Live at the Lyric November 14-15 and November 21-22, 2025 at 7:00PM, Sunday November 16 and November 17, 2025 at 2:00PM.
This edition of the play differs only slightly from previous acting editions, yet it presents Our Town as Thornton Wilder wished it to be performed. Described by Edward Albee as “the greatest American play ever written,” Our Town presents the small town of Grover’s Corners in three acts: “Daily Life,” “Love and Marriage” and “Death and Eternity.” Narrated by a stage manager and performed with minimal props and sets, the play depicts the simple daily lives of the Webb and Gibbs families as their children fall in love, marry, and eventually – in one of the most famous scenes in American theatre – die. Thornton Wilder’s final word on how he wanted his play performed is an invaluable addition to the American stage and to the libraries of theatre lovers internationally.
It’s time to renew your membership in the Ozark Arts Council (or to become an OAC member for the first time)! See below for the perks. Click HERE to join online.
History has taught us that the most vibrant societies are produced by giving, not by taking—and the very most vibrant are those that have a thriving and active Arts community! Having such a thriving Arts community has always been a matter of patronage, and it is no different today.
In a time when many are still struggling, some may think the Arts a luxury, something only of which those with ‘extra’ time and money on their hands may partake. Often, people feel that it’s too lofty a pursuit for communities that are rooted in farms and factories and retirees. But both history and statistics tell us that these contentions are untrue: the Arts are what help such communities survive!
The very nature of the Arts is to be both welcoming and challenging, to bring you in and to lift you up…and in a time of upheaval and widespread dissatisfaction, isn’t that exactly what you want to encourage and support? The Lyric and the OAC’s Member Organizations provide a place full of experiences that put all of the noise of this world’s discontent aside, a place that welcomes you into a moment where you neither have to be consumed with the woes of the world, real and imagined—or even what you’re going to make for supper, or find on your next day at work. For all of the ‘escapism’ that television promised, it is no match for joining with the rest of your community in a place where all that divides us is set aside and a team of volunteers seeks to be their best selves and to help us, at least for a few hours, to be ours.
This is what membership in the OAC promotes, so please consider becoming part of a community that truly builds community…that welcomes, educates, enjoys, and feasts on those things in our culture that build better people, stronger communities, and the general promotion of love and joy: please join the Ozark Arts Council today!
Below, you can find the perks that come from being an OAC member (with some fun new swag!), but we also want to hear from YOU! What would YOU like to see as a perk from being an OAC member? Email in**@**************il.org and let our Executive Director know!
The Ozark Arts Council is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with the mission to enrich lives by promoting the arts in Harrison and North Arkansas through exhibitions, performances, and education. Memberships and donations allow the OAC and its six Member Organizations to provide quality cultural programming and maintain the historic Lyric Theater for performances and community events.
A quick click here or a scan with your phone camera will take you to our online donation and membership processor!
You can also download and mail in the OAC Membership Form, if you prefer. (It is a PDF: click to print and fill out by hand; right-click to download and fill out in Adobe Reader or MacOS Preview, etc.).
Annual Memberships are available at the following levels:
Executive Producer: $10,000 and up
One-time use of the Lyric Theater (for a non-ticketed event)
Recognition in playbills and/or on-screen before events
Two (2) complimentary tickets to the annual fundraiser
One (1) vote at the OAC Annual Membership Meeting
Two (2) complimentary tickets to the annual fundraiser
Two (2) invitations to the Annual OAC Christmas Party
Logo and name link to your website on OAC website
Quarterly newsletter with upcoming events and other news
Personal and/or business name listed in playbills
Recognition on-screen before events
Pre-sale ticket purchasing opportunities (get your seats before sales open to the rest of the world…and eliminate ticketing fees!)
One (1) vote at the OAC Annual Membership Meeting
Backstage Tour after a production!
Are there even larger discounts on Season Passes‽ Yep!
Director: $5,000-$9,999
Two (2) complimentary tickets to the annual fundraiser
Two (2) invitations to the Annual OAC Christmas Party
Logo and name link to your website on OAC website
Quarterly newsletter with upcoming events and other news
Personal and/or business name listed in playbills
Recognition on-screen before events
Pre-sale ticket purchasing opportunities (get your seats before sales open to the rest of the world…and eliminate ticketing fees!)
One (1) vote at the OAC Annual Membership Meeting
Backstage Tour after a production!
Still larger discounts on Season Passes!
Principal: $1,000-$4,999
Two (2) invitations to the Annual OAC Christmas Party
Logo and name link to your website on OAC website
Quarterly newsletter with upcoming events and other news
Personal and/or business name listed in playbills
Link to your website from OAC website
Recognition on-screen before events
Pre-sale ticket purchasing opportunities (get your seats before sales open to the rest of the world…and eliminate ticketing fees!)
One (1) vote at the OAC Annual Membership Meeting
Even bigger discounts on Season Passes!
Patron: $500-$999
Quarterly newsletter with upcoming events and other news
Personal and/or business name listed in playbills
Link to your website from OAC website
Recognition on-screen before events
Pre-sale ticket purchasing opportunities (get your seats before sales open to the rest of the world…and eliminate ticketing fees!)
One (1) vote at the OAC Annual Membership Meeting
Discounts on Season Passes!
Twenty-Niner: $129–$499
Quarterly newsletter with upcoming events and other news
Recognition in playbills and/or on-screen before events
Pre-sale ticket purchasing opportunities (get your seats before sales open to the rest of the world…and eliminate ticketing fees!)
One (1) vote at the OAC Annual Membership Meeting
Understudy: $50–$128
Quarterly newsletter with upcoming events and other news
Recognition in playbills and/or on-screen before events
All memberships valid through June 30, 2025 for the 2024–2025 Season. While we have sought to make sure that our Member benefits are such that they do not compromise the deductibility of your membership donation, members may file a letter with us choosing not to receive Membership benefits so that it is clear to the IRS that you are donating the full amount to the OAC. If Membership benefits are accepted, please check with your tax professional as to what portion of your membership may remain tax-deductible.
Early Bird Ticket Sales: For most events, we are able to offer tickets to our members between a few hours and a few days before they go on sale to the general public, so you have a better chance of getting your favorite seat.
No Ticketing or Card Fees: We consider your investment in the OAC as what provides us the ability to have ticketing and card processing in the first place, so we give you a code to eliminate fees when you purchase online (and enter the code for you if you purchase them in advance in person or over the phone).
Super Popcorn Discount and Collectible Bucket: While we are introducing a new giant-size popcorn for anyone to save on popcorn (and on trips to the concessions stand!) on a per-event basis, we are also introducing a refillable and reusable bucket with our logo and our theme for the year on it. Buy a popcorn for all of the year’s events in advance!
Special Merchandise Offers and Discounts: Promotional and event mugs, shirts, window clings (and who knows what else?!) are being developed to help you help the Lyric to thrive and to allow you to remember and celebrate fun times at the Lyriconce you return home.
Season Passes (and Discounts): All our members have been able to buy Season Passes to productions by the Theatre Company of the Ozarks…and now we’re adding Northark Drama and HHS Theatre productions, as well! Members who join at the $100 level or above also get discounts on season passes, with discounts growing along with membership donations.
The Arts Investor Appreciation Pass: Take the lead in providing plays, concerts, or both by making a Membership donation that helps us keep booking artists and paying rights and royalties, and we will provide you free passes that allow you to come and check on your investment.
A Theatre Investor ($500) receives a code for two free tickets to every playin our season!
A Concert Investor ($750) receives a code for two seats at every concertwe produce.
An All the Arts Investor ($1,200) receives two tickets for every concert and every play we put on!
Please Note:There may be some events that we do not produce, those that are via a rental arrangement by an outside organization or that are a fundraiser for another nonprofit. We keep these to a bare minimum…and if we can work out a contract with them to get you seated for free, we will do so, and we will let you know in advance. Examples of such events: the recent Buffalo River documentary; the Ozark Rape Crisis Center’s lip sync battle; the Ozarks Dynacom Five Star Talent Contest.
The Theatre Company of the Ozarks and the Ozark Arts Council Present: Beauty & The Beast, Jr.
Saturdays, July 20 & 27, 2:00PM & 7:00PM
Thursday, July 25, 10:00AM
What you’ve been waiting for all summer is almost here: the enchanting and exciting story of Beauty and the Beast! The Theatre Company of the Ozarks and The Ozark Arts Council, under license from Music Theatre International, will present Beauty and the Beast, Jr. LIVE at The Lyric Theater in Harrison, Arkansas, on July 20, 25, and 27. Saturday performances will be at2:00pm and 7:00pm, and the Thursday performance will be at 10:00am. Tickets are available through TheLyric.org with Advance Tickets priced at $8 children, $10 seniors, $12 adults. Ticket prices at the door will be $11 children, $13 seniors, $15 adults.
Shade Roberts and Liani Cash
Don’t let the “Jr.” in the title lead you to expect a watered-down production missing your favorite songs: when Disney commissions an adaptation for young performers, it’s name is still on the line! Based on the original Broadway production that ran for over thirteen years and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, and the Academy Award-winning motion picture, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. is a fantastic adaptation of the story of transformation and tolerance. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Jr. features some of the most popular songs ever written by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman, along with new songs by Mr. Menken and Tim Rice.
As with many of our children’s plays, rehearsals were preceded by a two-week-long workshop, which focused on vocals, acting, and choreography, as well as the proper etiquette for being in a play and attending a play, all of which culminated in a short performance for the family and friends of the children—many of whom are gracing the Lyric stage for the first time ever. Only then was attention turned fully to this play, where those new or refined acting, singing, and dancing skills could be put into practice for the sellout performances this July will bring.
Beauty and the Beast tells the story of an arrogant young prince and his castle’s servants who fall under the spell of a wicked enchantress when he turns her away from his door. The enchantress turns the prince into the hideous “Beast” until he can learn to love and to be loved in return. The spirited, headstrong village girl Belle enters Beast’s castle after he imprisons her father, Maurice. With the help of his enchanted servants, including the matronly Mrs. Potts, Belle begins to draw the cold-hearted Beast out of his isolation. But when the similarly cold-hearted Gaston and his henchman Lefou decide to destroy the Beast, will Belle be able to save the Beast from eternal doom?
We hope you will join us both for the entertainment and lesson imparted by this classic story and for the building of our community that attendance at Arts events—especially at young people’s theatre—always brings. The OAC and its Member Organizations are committed to having children of all ages learn about the Arts and develop a love for them that reaches beyond their early years, so that they grow up to be well-rounded, empathetic adults. These “Jr.” plays, and the directors who bless us by giving up a portion of their summers, are a huge first step in that direction.
Says Director Debbie Waters:
“I have been blessed with the best cast of young people between the ages of 6-18 who are a joy to work with. We have a cast of 30 who are working hard and excited to ask everyone to ‘Be Our Guest’ at the Historic Lyric Theater during our 90th Birthday Celebration season.”
Our Cast and Crew include:
Caleb Lord and Liani Cash
Belle: Liani Cash Beast: Shade Roberts Gaston: Caleb Lord LeFou: Jacob Cothran Maurice: Logan Cole Mrs. Potts: Alayna Davis Chip: Ivan Hanschu Lumiere: Nicholas Prpich Babette: Chyler Caraway Cogsworth: Bannon Jones Madame de la Grande Bouche: Lexi Sprenger Silly Girls: Brinkley Brewer, Avery Skinner, Emily Still Enchantress: AnneJanette Cole
Ensemble: Kaden Allen, Zoë Arthur, Laura Bracken, Callie Caraway, Ethan Causey, Landon Clements, Joshua Cothran, Ella Domino, Dierdra Goldman, Jadah Gregory, Kalel Lewis, Tarron Lewis, Mia Ostberg, Emma Claire Pruitt, Natalie Sims, Jerome Sweatman, Jenna Wilson
Back: Caleb Lord & Emily Still Front: Avery Skinner & Brinkley Brewer
Join us at The Lyric for this heartwarming tale of the transformative power of love on July 20, 25, and 27. Tickets for Beauty and the Beast, Jr. are available now through TheLyric.org by clicking any “Get Tickets” link, by stopping by the OAC office at 115 W. Rush
Ave. between 8 & 2 Tuesday through Friday, or by calling (870) 391-3504 (please leave a detailed message if you get our voicemail).
“Just your run of the mill, post-structuralist cowgirl Americana…” Crooked Creek presents Winona Wilde!
Thursday, May 17 at 7:00PM
Photo by Brandon Albert, Flare Magazine
“Over simple, well-worn chords, Wilde’s voice sounds weary and wise, and yet still full of life…Her storytelling binds together personal experience and political ideas in relatable ways, the way only the best songwriting can.”
– Peter Ellman, Exclaim
Crooked Creek Concert Association presents 2017 Kerrville NewFolk Songwriting Award winner Winona Wilde, who will perform at the Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks, Harrison, Arkansas’s historic Lyric Theater, on May 17 at 7:00PM, with special guest opener Fayetteville’s Elizabeth Scott. Tickets are available in advance for $10; at the door, they will be $15.
Karl Magi recently profiled Winona Wilde for Spinditty, so we’re going to borrow some quotes from his excellent article there. He shows her love for the Roots Music fans and culture: “If I had known all of these people and festivals existed when I started law school, I probably would have quit instead of suffering through it. The sense of community I have felt from the folkies is unlike anything on this earth. It has made me a better person.”
It’s not having gone to law school that makes people wonder most at her rise to prominence in the Americana scene—nor even her being Canadian, since that’s “North Americana,” at least—but the fact that she is a Canadian of Iraqi descent
Photo by Sim Al-Surraj
who has so embraced—and been embraced by—Western “Roots Music”/Americana and its fans.
Wilde (whose non-stage name is Noosa Al-Sarraj) says that music was a part of her life from her earliest days. “I do not come from a musical family, but opportunities for making music always came into my life at the right time. As a little tiny baby, I used to sing my mother’s lullabies back to her, and as a toddler, I was really good at clapping back rhythms and freakishly repeating back entire verses from the Koran, so my mother suspected there was something at play there.”
Her musical influences are wide-ranging. “I grew up on classical music. My faves were the moody, dense composers like Beethoven and Schumann. I spent hours every day alone with the piano, deciphering the language. To this day, I can still recognize a composer from just a few bars of music. Nobody generally cares when it happens, but it always feels like a little bit of a fist-pump moment.”
“When I hit my teens I got all the way into older blues artists like Ray Charles and Nat King Cole and then started to experiment with the edgier stuff like Tool and Nine Inch Nails. I loved the melodic metal my younger brother Sim listened to, he got me into Opeth, Dream Theatre and stuff like that. The heaviness of my lyrical content might have something to do with that.”
Magi writes: “Her transformation into a country/folk artist is something for which Noosa has an interesting explanation. She says, ‘My parents both worked a ton so we had a nanny whom we affectionately called Nana. She may have had country music radio on all day, so my young brain had the country music of the 80’s hammered into it without my even noticing. When I eventually heard John Prine and Loretta Lynn as an adult, all of this country music came pouring out of me.’”
Photo by Mary Matheson, BC Musician Magazine
Eleni Armenakis makes it clear in her review of the Wilnona Wilde album “Wasted Time” that as much as her music can reach the heights and depths of introspection and social commentary, her music is not one dimensional: “‘Buy a Round’ marks a change in the album, as Al-Sarraj laughs into a pure country number that fittingly rolls in and around itself. There’s more of a folk sound to ‘Black Forest Black Forest’ before ‘To The Corner’ finds a balance between the two to quietly see out the album.” Armenakis concludes, “Al-Sarraj knows what she wants to say and how she wants to say it. Despite the title, she’s clearly not wasting any time.”
“The best introduction to troubadour songwriter Winona Wilde’s wry sensibilities is through her delivered-with-a-wink song, ‘Chick Singer’…She sings with both exasperation and good humour, because, as we all know, sometimes the truth is so bleak, it’s hilarious. The same autobiographical song also references the blank stares she gets from people surprised to see an Iraqi-Canadian woman singing country songs. Wilde, whose real name is Noosa Al-Sarraj, fell in love with country music thanks to a nanny she had as a kid. Her kickass songwriting abilities led to win an award at the Kerrville Folk Festival’s New Folk competition this year—one of few Canadians to do so, and certainly the first of Iraqi descent.”
Winona Wilde will perform at the Roots Music Palace of the Ozarks, Harrison, Arkansas’s historic Lyric Theater, on May 17 at 7:00PM,with special guest opener Fayetteville’s Elizabeth Scott. Tickets are available in advance for $10; at the door, they will be $15.
Can you recall the first song you ever wrote?
From age 11-17, my subjects were mainly animals — for example, “Everything tastes like chicken when you’re not around,” a musical adaptation of Dr. Seuss’s One Fish, Two Fish, and a mini-opera about a donkey who eats spaghetti. Although one early song I remember went something like “darkness into darkness” and had some complex chord changes and a heavy subject. I gave it to my teacher and I never got it back, so I am really curious about what was going on in that song. Perhaps she passed it along to a psychiatrist.