On Tuesday night, I took my 3-year-old daughter Kate to see Disney’s Beauty and the Beast musical at Walton Arts Center. It was opening night for this show, and the place was packed! Kate dressed up in all her princess gear, including a pink tutu, just before we left for the show. Can you tell by looking at this photo that she was a tad bit excited?

The musical exceeded my expectations (which were pretty high to begin with) because it truly was like seeing the movie come to life on stage. The stage scenery and the costumes were incredible. And the singing? Well, I had multiple “goose bump” moments throughout the show.

The only thing that interested me more than what was happening on stage was the look on my daughter’s face as she was watching the show. You know how a little kid looks when she is completely surprised and completely thrilled at the same time? It was…. awesome. I won’t forget it, and I know she won’t forget this trip to the theater. At one point in the performance, right after the Beast roared at Belle, Kate turned to me and said, in a very serious tone, “That Beast has bad behavior!” But don’t worry… he redeemed himself in the end and became a “nice Beast.”

After the show, we bought one of the full-color programs with photos of the musical, and she has been “reading” it to me ever since we got home Tuesday night — giving me a play-by-play recap of everything that happened on stage.

We’ve been told there are still good seats available at several of the remaining performances of this show. So if you’re thinking of going to see it but were waiting around to hear whether or not it’s worth the trip, trust me. It’s worth it. You can get tickets by calling the Walton Arts Center box office at 479-443-5600 or by clicking here to check on ticket availability. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Below is a video review recorded at the Walton Arts Center right after opening night. This contains opinions by other audience members on opening night as well as some footage of the performance.

TOMORROW, May 1st, tickets will go on sale for Beauty & the Beast at the Walton Arts Center. There are lots of moms and daughters out there who are huge fans of the movie, so we know you’ll want to see it come to life on stage at Walton Arts Center this summer.

This is also shaping up to be a big “date night” for lots of couples ready to see a Broadway favorite hit Dickson Street in Fayetteville. We can’t wait to see this one!

If you are one of the first 50 people in line at the Walton Arts Center tomorrow, May 1st, at 10 a.m. you’ll score some great Beauty and the Beast merchandise! There will also be grand prizes for the first three families in line. Girls are invited to come dressed as their favorite Disney princess. Get there early for breakfast sandwiches from Razor’s Edge and watch exclusive footage from this amazing musical. You can also enter to win prizes from M&M’s and Procter & Gamble. We love free stuff!

The dates for the show are July 27th through August 8th. If you want great seats, buy tickets early because you know this one is going to be extremely popular with adults and kids alike. Disney’s Beauty and the Beast tickets are also available at www.waltonartscenter.org and by calling 479-443-5600, but prizes are only available in person. See you at the show!

Through May 30, the exhibition Looking at Our Landscape will be on display at Crystal Bridges at the Massey. More than 100 community members, from children aged 12 to adults over 80, submitted photographs to Looking at Our Landscape, a juried community photography exhibition that focuses on the natural beauty of Northwest Arkansas. (The photo at right is by Edward C. Robinson, The Flow.)

Some captured the sparkling waters of the Kings and Buffalo Rivers, the faceted rock formations at Tanyard Creek and the barns and pastures of back roads Arkansas. Others trained their lenses on culturally significant sites: Eureka Springs’ signal tree, a rural grave shelter and the grafittied remnants of Monte Ne resort.

To view all works submitted and download a map to selected sites, be sure to visit the web site for the exhibition, lookingatourlandscape.org. To see the exhibit in person, Crystal Bridges is located just off the downtown Bentonville Square, 125 W. Central Ave. 479-418-5700. The permanent museum is still under construction.

Another family outing you might consider: Family Fun in the Gardens. Help Crystal Bridges celebrate National Public Gardens Day with hands-on art making along the garden path! Create your own nature journal, a flowerpot for your feathered friends, leaf rubbings and more while you discover the wonders of Compton Gardens.

• Saturday, May 8, 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. (rain or shine)
• Compton Gardens
• 312 N. Main St., Bentonville, AR
• 479-254-3870

Drop-in art and nature appreciation experiences for children and families of all ages.

Editor’s note: Comments are closed — we have a winner! Congratulations to Ardith Alford!

Are you guys as excited about this show as we are? Is that even possible? If you grew up with this music, if you’ve seen the movie more times than you can count, or if your first real crush was on John Travolta as “Danny”, then you’re really, REALLY gonna want to win the free tickets to see Grease on opening night at the Walton Arts Center on Tuesday, May 4th. Woo-hoo!!! We love GREASE!

We’re pairing the theater tickets with dinner at the one-of-a-kind Bordinos Italian Restaurant, just steps away from Walton Arts Center. We’ve sent lots of lucky mama winners to Bordinos over the past two years, and they always come away stuffed with incredible food and very impressed with the service, atmosphere and overall vibe at Bordinos. The folks at Bordinos know how to treat a mama! With two theater tickets plus the $50 gift card to Bordinos, this package is valued at more than $150!

Grease was named the No. 1 Musical of the Year by Time Magazine in 2007. This production features songs from the 1978 film including “Sandy,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “Grease,” and “You’re the One That I Want.” Those last two songs were both No. 1 hits on the Billboard Top 100 list. Some of the other songs you’ll hear include “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’” and “We Go Together.”

And get this! Guess who’s playing Teen Angel in this production? It’s none other than the 2006 American Idol winner Taylor Hicks! After winning Idol, Hicks had a debut single “Do I Make Your Proud,” which hit the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and was then certified gold. He is currently promoting his second new album called “The Distance.”

The film version of GREASE produced one of the best-selling soundtracks in history, and it’s the highest-grossing movie musical of all time.

For more info on specific show dates and times, click HERE to visit the Walton Arts Center website. Or call 479-443-5600 to reach the ticket box office.

HOW TO ENTER: To throw your name in the hat for this giveaway, click the big orange comment button below and tell us your favorite part of GREASE. Was it a certain song or scene or character? If you can quote a favorite line, do that, too! You may also e-mail your entry to us at giveaways@nwaMotherlode.com.

INCREASE YOUR ODDS: As always, you can increase your odds of winning the tickets and dinner if you help us spread the word. Just send your friends a note about the giveaway and/or website and be sure to put giveaways@nwaMotherlode.com on the CC line of your note so we can give you proper credit. We’ll give you an extra chance to win for every friend you tell.

We’re looking forward to reading about your favorite GREASE moments. Good luck, and keep an eye on your inbox because we notify winners via e-mail!!!