For five years, Artist’s Laboratory Theatre has been presenting handcrafted, community-centric, theatrical performances in Northwest Arkansas. Led by the mission to expand the audience’s role in live theatre, each program aims provide unique ways to engage audiences. The organization’s Executive Director, Erika Wilhite, is looking forward to growing current programs and adding new ones in coming years, and has taken steps to make that happen.

New Board Members

Four new members were recently welcomed to the board of directors, bringing a wide range of experiences and skills with them. They join Hannah Withers, Elliott James, Rachna Khare, and Alisa Williams who already reside on the board.

Cathy Baker is a lifelong fan of the arts, and is delighted to support the local arts community. She is pursuing her J.D. at the University of Arkansas, and happy to help support this group that is laying a foundation of thoughtful and positive interactions among our community.

Josh Davis teaches sophomores the joys of the English language at Springdale High School. He received his M.A. in Teaching from the University of Arkansas, and his B.A. in English from Arkansas Tech University. Davis lives in Fayetteville with his partner, Kylee Hansen, and their fur monsters, Maylene and Lula Sue. When he’s not spending his time integrating the arts into education he reads comics and writes terrible stories.

Kylee Hansen is an ArkSTART Coordinator and Case Manager at Arkansas Support Network. She received her M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Arkansas and her B.A. in Rehabilitation Science at Arkansas Tech University. Kylee is passionate about creating inclusive and accessible arts experiences for individuals with disabilities.

Laurie Marshall is a freelance writer with a B.A. in creative writing and native of Fayetteville. She performed in theatrical productions in the Dallas area before returning to Northwest Arkansas two decades ago. She is looking forward to putting her experience in non-profit fundraising and public relations to work on behalf of the arts. Marshall lives in Springdale where she spends her free time making art and supporting the local taquerias.

New Membership Program Available

Fans of live theatre now have a very real way to support Artists Laboratory Theatre, with the creation of a new membership program. “Our fans have been incredibly supportive of the work being done here,” explains Wilhite, “Now is the right time to give them another way to support us, one that will help us grow our impact in the community.” Your membership gets you exclusive access to behind the scenes news, Sunday Night Service recordings to your inbox, swag, Secret Theatre invites, parties, and more.

“FUNdraising”

It is the mission of the Company to expand the audience’s role in live theatre, so Artists Laboratory Theatre has hosted creative, interactive fundraisers in past years, including the Hootenanny and Pie Auction held at Bottle Rocket Gallery, and the Homecoming Dance at the Skate Station last fall. With the addition of the membership program, individuals and businesses in Northwest Arkansas now have another way to support local theatre without the need to attend an event. It is also a novel way to be involved with Company. As a Lab Member, you get insider perks and privileges. And your annual membership fee is a tax- deductible donation that goes directly to making our productions and outreach programs possible. But no good deed goes unnoticed, so your membership is not only a donation, but “exclusive access” to Artist’s Laboratory events, shows, stuff, and news.

Membership levels start at just $15, and more information can be found on their website at www.artlabtheatre.com.

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