The Northwest Arkansas Gridiron Show was established 48 years ago, following in the tradition of the Washington Gridiron Club and providing performances that satirize the politics and cultural trends of the day.
It has nothing to do with football, save that the writers occasionally find ample reason to rib the Arkansas Razorbacks.
The NWA Gridiron is written, directed and performed by professional journalists, student journalists, retired journalists and journalism professors each October. The emcee, on the other hand, is usually a well-respected civic, political or community leader. The show began in 1978 and continued for 13 seasons, using a variety of venues such as the Rodeo Community Center and the Arts Center of the Ozarks, both in Springdale.
It was on hiatus for the next 13 seasons and returned in 2004 with the help of members of the American Association of University Women, with shows for several years at the Arkansas Public Theatre in Rogers. Live shows were temporarily discontinued during the Covid period, and resumed in 2022 at the Butterfield Trail Village in Fayetteville and moved to The Medium in Springdale for the 2024 season.
Politicians from local mayors to state representatives, senators, governors and even a president-in-the-making have attended the show to watch themselves be lampooned and skewered. And that’s half the fun for the audience.
About the Jones Center
The Jones Center is at the northwest corner of Emma Avenue and Old Missouri Road (Arkansas 265) in downtown Springdale. The center offers families and the general public a variety of recreational and cultural amenities including an indoor ice skating rink, swimming pool and a performance hall, the Harvey and Bernice Jones Chapel Auditorium, just inside the main entrances.
The auditorium is large enough to seat 300 and is equipped with theatrical lighting and sound systems.
The Gridiron Show has been performed in Springdale numerous times over the years, including the Arts Center of the Ozarks, the original Springdale Rodeo Center and The Medium.
Parking is available on the west side near the main entrances with access from both Emma Avenue and Old Missouri Road.
The physical address is 922 E. Emma Ave., Springdale, AR 72764. For more details, contact the center at 479-756-8090 or email info@thejonescenter.org.
Tickets go on sale soon.