We're Booming Again!

             ARKANSAS

                                By

                     Richard Mason

                                  We’re Booming Again!

Wow, what a week! If what we received during opening weekend of MAD is any indication of what’s to come, El Dorado will never be the same! Yes, we’re booming again, and the long anticipated grand opening of MAD was certainly worth waiting for, and the folks, who worked night and day for weeks on end, have hit a home run. The opening ran smoothly, considering the huge task of having a quadruple venue of restaurant, cabaret, amphitheater, and music-hall all having simultaneous grand openings. I can only marvel at how the team pulled it all together, and their effort moved El Dorado up, from being just a stop to buy gasoline, into a world-class destination.

If you had talked with some of the thousands who attended the five day grand opening, which by the way, had the largest  group of top entertainers together in the state at one time, you would have marveled at how many of the attendees came from, not only out-of-town, but out of state. And after the entertainment spectaculars, the ones I talked with, will carry back rave reviews to Shreveport, Dallas, and Jackson, etc. “We’ll be back!” was the overriding theme I heard from the dozens I interviewed.

Yes, there were a few minor wrinkles, but that’s to be expected, and until you put on a production of that magnitude, it’s really impossible to predict every item that would smooth things out. However, as an overview, I was shocked at how smoothly most all of the attractions ran. Without a doubt, the GRIFFIN MUSIC HALL will become a must Mid-South stop for many of the top flight entertainers in the country. Personally, after seeing the stage lighting and sound, in the Griffin, I can’t wait to attend one of the many Broadway Plays that will be lining up to perform there.

I especially liked the variety of entertainment on tap for the grand opening, and looking ahead at the acts to come, MAD will have something for everyone, and not only just something, but top quality acts. If you want to be entertained by some of the best in a variety of entertainment fields, look no further than MAD.

Of course, since Phase One of the entertainment complex is such an overwhelming success, the forthcoming addition, MAD PLAYSCAPE, which will be the largest, innovative, and attractive children’s play area in the state, will greatly add to MAD.

Well, we’ve been served up a grand opening week, which whets our taste for more of the same top quality entertainers, and make us anticipate Phase Two. Wow, the addition will include The MAD ART GALLERY, a top of the mark three level art museum, with a possible connection to Crystal Bridges. Just think of how many more visitors will be attracted when this state-of-the-art museum opens with world class, quality art. But I saved the crown jewel for last: Yes, the fabulous 1929 RIALTO THEATER will be totally renovated and returned to its original splendor, but with added modern acoustics, lighting, and seating. Upon completion, the Rialto will once again be a venue combination of live music and drama entertainment.  Add that to the already runaway success of MAD, and then include MAD FARMERS MARKET in the amphitheater area, and you will have to stretch your mind to fathom the impact the whole package will have on our city.

Get ready folks, it’s only going to get better and better! 

But I would me amiss if I didn’t mention one of the sparkplugs who moved the project forward, and couldn’t be with us for the grand opening; Edwin Alderson.  Edwin is fighting a serious illness, and those of us who know Edwin, are pulling for him to kick it, and to rejoin us at MAD.