Broadway Star Fergie L. Philippe Becomes AMFA’s First Performing Artist-in-Residence

Philippe to Direct the Museum’s Upcoming Children’s Play ‘An Unlikely Hero’
Upcoming Museum Programs Explore Musical Theatre and Storytelling

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) today announces Fergie L. Philippe as its next Artist-in-Residence, becoming the museum’s first resident performing artist since its grand opening in April 2023. During his residency, Philippe will direct AMFA’s upcoming Children’s Theatre production of An Unlikely Hero, teach a musical theatre masterclass, give an inspiring artist talk featuring live performances, and more.

Philippe is best known for playing Hercules Mulligan/James Madison in the Broadway production of Hamilton from 2020 to 2022 and starring as Sir Sagramore in the 2023 Broadway revival of Camelot reimagined by Aaron Sorkin. TV fans might recognize Philippe from his guest appearances on The Gilded Age (HBO), Law and Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC), Here on Out (Amazon Prime), and The Good Fight (Paramount+).

Originally from Miami, Philippe studied musical theatre at Elon University in North Carolina. He has performed regionally at The MUNY in St. Louis with Jim Henson company artist John Tartaglia and taught at the Miami Dade College New World School of the Arts. Before making his way to AMFA, he can be seen performing as Kristoff in Frozen at Theatre Under the Stars in Houston through December 29, 2024.

"I am thrilled to be returning to Little Rock and directing for the first time at AMFA,” says Philippe. “It is a full circle moment for me, as some of my first professional experiences as an actor were at the Arkansas Shakespeare Theater alongside several of the cast and crew members for An Unlikely Hero. I am excited to bring this exciting show about finding the hero inside of you to Arkansas."

An Unlikely Hero

As an Artist-in-Residence at AMFA, Philippe takes the reins as director of An Unlikely Hero – a children’s play set in a school where having superpowers seems crucial to fitting in. Written by Emilio Rodriguez, An Unlikely Hero is a joint production between AMFA, Metro Theatre Company in St. Louis, and Trike Theater in Bentonville, Ark., as part of The TYA BIPOC Superhero Project– an unprecedented national partnership involving 22 playwrights and 24 theaters for young audiences dedicated to creating a new generation of plays about heroes for young people.

An Unlikely Hero takes the AMFA stage for six shows across two weekends: January 18-19, 2025, and January 25-26, 2025. Tickets are available at events.arkmfa.org for $15, or $12 for AMFA members. The show’s running time is approximately one hour and ten minutes, with a recommended audience age of five and up.

On Saturday, January 25, the 10:30 a.m. show features audio description, and the 2:00 p.m. show features ASL interpretation. The performance on Sunday, January 26, at 2:00 p.m. is sensory-friendly.

Local heroes will be honored at the 2:00 p.m. performance on Saturday, January 25, with an opportunity to purchase tickets at the member price and enjoy reduced prices on annual memberships – all police officers, firefighters, educators, military, and other difference-makers in the community are welcome.

“An Unlikely Hero is a story about belonging, and the museum’s mission is to be an inclusive and welcoming space where everyone has access to meaningful experiences with the arts. So, this is the perfect time to honor the heroes here in Central Arkansas that care for us and help us feel safe in our community,” remarks AMFA’s Executive Director Dr. Victoria Ramirez.

Additional Events and Programs

In celebration of opening weekend for An Unlikely Hero, AMFA is hosting a free family festival on January 18, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Family Fest: Superhero Saturday welcomes children and families of all ages to explore family-friendly comic books, enjoy art-making activities, and meet guest authors and artists.

Following the 10:30 a.m. show on Saturday, January 25, 2025, Philippe is facilitating a free puppet-making workshop for aspiring young puppeteers aged 5+. Puppet Power: Create Your Own Hero is a free, drop-in experience, and no registration is required.

Philippe is also scheduled to give an artist talk on Wednesday, January 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. and teach a musical theatre masterclass on Sunday, January 19, 2025, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Philippe’s artist talk gives a behind-the-curtain look at what it takes to perform on Broadway’s biggest stages, featuring brief musical selections from his recent projects. Tickets are free, with pre-registration recommended at events.arkmfa.org.

Philippe’s masterclass offers insightful, hands-on instruction designed for aspiring performers aged 16+. Registration is required at events.arkmfa.org for $40 per person or $32 for AMFA members.

For a full list of past AMFA artists-in-residence, or more information about the program, visit arkmfa.org.

An Unlikely Hero is supported by the Rebsamen Fund.

Family Fest: Superhero Saturday, Puppet Power: Create Your Own Hero, and Behind the Curtain with Fergie Philippe are supported in part by the Alice L. Walton Foundation.

Children’s Theatre and Performing Arts programs are supported by The Shubert Foundation and the Alice L. Walton Foundation.

About the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts

Founded in 1937, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts is the largest cultural institution of its kind in the state, offering a unique blend of visual and performing arts experiences. AMFA is committed to featuring diverse media and artistic perspectives within its permanent collection as well as through rotating temporary exhibitions. AMFA’s international collection spans eight centuries, with strengths in works on paper and contemporary craft, and includes notable holdings by artists from Arkansas, the South, and across the United States and Europe.

With a vibrant mix of ideas, cultures, people, and places, AMFA extends this commitment to diversity through the innovative Windgate Art School, a dynamic children’s theatre and performing arts program, and community-focused educational programs for all ages. Located in Little Rock’s oldest urban green space, MacArthur Park, AMFA’s landmark building and grounds are designed by Studio Gang and SCAPE, in collaboration with Polk Stanley Wilcox Architects.