I’m very excited to have recently joined the promotional committee for the Royal Players in beautiful historic downtown Benton. My first order of business is to ask everyone to Like the Facebook page.
I have known and loved the Royal Theatre since watching movies there in the 90s.
This experience includes watching Batman and Robin there with friends and family, whereupon my then-4-year-old son, Ian, threw up in my purse. I don’t blame him for doing so – it was a terrible addition to the Batman series.
Other locals have known the Royal much longer. The Royal is in its 95th year of business, having opened in 1922, but the building began as the IMP in 1920. It has gone through several changes in ownership, most famously owned by Jerry Van Dyke of TV fame. It is now owned by the non-profit group called The Royal Players.
Beginning tonight and through this weekend and next, you can see “Mary Poppins” being performed live on stage right here in downtown Benton. If you’ve never been to a play at the Royal, now is the time to start.
Expect to hear more from me about this gem of Saline County’s heritage, but for now here are some relevant links…
- Mary Poppins event on FB:
www.facebook.com/events/258476701226120/ - Royal Players website:
www.theroyalplayers.com - Royal Players FB page:
www.facebook.com/The-Royal-Players-122953127725253/ - Royal Theatre entry in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas:
www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?search=1&entryID=12174