Lights along the wall cast shadows across the auditorium. The soft-cushioned red chairs stand in silent rows, directing one s attention toward the curtained stage of the King Opera House. A beautiful place, an historic site, and a great place to hold a regional history teachers meeting, the building has seen much in its more than 125-year lifespan. A cornerstone of the Van Buren Historic District, the King Opera House has hosted notables and performers as famous as opera singer Jenny Lind, orator and politician William Jennings Bryan, and comedian Bob Burns, as well as a host of others.
Emmy-winning composer Amos Cochran is looking forward to performing in Van Buren. After all, that s where he lives. The Fort Smith Symphony String Quartet will present a collection of his compositions for the Perspectives Chamber Concert: Sonic Dreamscapes at 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at King Opera House. Tickets are $10, available at tickets.fortsmithsymphony.org. He answered these questions for What s Up! (Some answers have been edited for space.)