An autism advocate who is a renowned producer and animator as well as a cast member on Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum, the coach who inspired the hit Apple TV series Ted Lasso, a renowned Arkansas-born playwright and filmmaker, the author and illustrator of a new book about Arkansas female musicians, and a Native American rapper and dancer highlight the 2026-27 Walton Arts & Ideas Series at University of the Ozarks.
WAIS is made possible by an endowment established by the Walton Family Charitable Support Foundation. All of the events begin at 7 p.m. and there is no charge for admission. This upcoming academic year’s series will feature six events, with a yet-to-be-announced event scheduled for February.
The series begins on Sept. 15, with an appearance by Supaman, a Native American rapper and dancer. As a member of the “Apsáalooke Nation”, Supaman makes his home on the Crow reservation in Montana. “Supaman” is Christian Takes Gun Parrish, a Native American dancer and innovative hip hop artist who has dedicated his life to empowering and spreading a message of hope, pride and resilience through his original art form. He is a multi-national award winning artist, including the MTV VMA award for “Best Fight Against the System” and numerous Indigenous Music Awards. His videos have received millions of views on YouTube and Facebook which have put him in high demand touring extensively to festivals, colleges, conferences, communities, and schools throughout the U.S.A and internationally.
On Oct. 7, Arkansas author Stephen Koch and illustrator Katherine Strause will discuss their new book, “From Almeda to Zilphia: Arkansas Women Who Transformed American Popular Song.” The book profiles artists who’ve influenced music around the world in ways we’re still discovering. Despite their collective cultural impact, these women’s stories have too often been overlooked, forgotten, or never told. Part history, part art, and part music, the book features a wide cross-section of inspirational creatives across the decades. With surprises like Maya Angelou’s side career as a calypso singer and Carrie Cash, who recognized that her son, Johnny, had “the gift.” Working from often hard-to-find historic photographs, vivid portraits by Strause of the women profiled make plain the strength and artistry of these cultural pioneers. “From Almeda To Zilphia” is written by musician and award-winning journalist Koch, writer and host of the syndicated public radio program Arkansongs.
The series continues on Nov. 11 with a talk by Dani Bowman (pictured, left), an autism advocate and cast member on Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum U.S. Bowman discusses her journey working in animation and building her own animation company, DaniMation Entertainment, at the age of 14. Diagnosed with autism at age three and nonverbal until six, Bowman discovered animation as her first language — sparking a passion that continues to fuel her work today. This inspiring discussion will dive into the challenges the people with autism face within the animation industry and the importance of understanding and accommodating differences, building self-advocacy skills, and fostering inclusive workplaces for all. Bowman is an autistic entrepreneur, animator, educator, and public speaker dedicated to advancing inclusion, creativity, and opportunity for neurodivergent individuals.
On March 30, 2027, retired Kansas high school math teacher and basketball coach Donnie Campbell (pictured, right) will speak at Ozarks. Campbell was the inspiration behind the hit Apple TV series Ted Lasso, which portrays a football coach from Kansas who is hired to be the head coach of the English Premier Soccer Leagues AFC Richmond. Campbell was plucked out of obscurity when Jason Sudeikis, the American actor and star of the 5-time Emmy Award winning show, revealed to Stephen Colbert on the late show that Campbell was in part the impetus for the lead character he plays with such wit and wisdom. Today, Campbell has been busy making appearances on local and national television including ABC’s Good Morning America and NBC’s The Today Show. In addition to teaching, he is now speaking to organizations and companies about leadership and specifically, how important it is to instill strong values in the people you work with. He credits his leadership skills to his always positive attitude and to his mentors that prepared him for success both in the classroom and as a coach.
The series will conclude on April 6, 2027, with an appearance by playwright and filmmaker Qui Ngyun. Originally from El Dorado, Arkansas, Nguyen is co-founder of the OBIE Award-winning Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company. Renowned for blending pop culture, stage combat, puppetry, and multimedia into exhilarating theatrical experiences, his work has been hailed as “culturally savvy comedy,” “tour de force theatre,” and “infectious fun” by The New York Times, Time Out, and Variety. His previous film and television credits include Walt Disney Animation Studios, where he wrote Raya and the Last Dragon and wrote/co-directed Strange World; as well as projects for AMC (Dispatches from Elsewhere), Netflix (The Society), Syfy (Incorporated), PBS (Peg + Cat), and Marvel Studios. He currently has an overall deal with Paramount Skydance. As a playwright, Qui is best known for Vietgone, Poor Yella Rednecks, Revenge Song, and the critically acclaimed Vampire Cowboys productions She Kills Monsters, Soul Samurai, The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G, Alice in Slasherland, Fight Girl Battle World, and Living Dead in Denmark. His plays are published by Concord Theatricals/Samuel French, Playscripts, and Broadway Play Publishing. He’s currently developing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Live on Stage! for Paramount Products and Experiences.
Topics: WAIS