Stars Gather for The Oxford American

Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman and acclaimed author Charles Portis will be in Little Rock tonight to receive awards from the The Oxford American at the magazine's inaugural "Best Of the South Gala" at the Capital Hotel.

Freeman, who was born in Memphis and spent much of his life in Mississippi, will receive the award for Outstanding Contributions to Southern Culture. Portis, an Arkansas native and author of "True Grit," will receive an award for Lifetime Achievement in Southern Literature.

The UCA-based magazine reserved every private and public room in the historic Capital Hotel for the event. Mary Steenburgen, an Academy Award-winning actress from North Little Rock, will host the ceremony. UCA's own Kris Allen is scheduled to perform. Harry Thomason, another Arkansas native best known for his television series "Designing Women," has produced a film tribute to Freeman for the event.

Academy Award-winning producers Ray McKinnon and Lisa Blount will be there. McKinnon and Blount, an Arkansas native and McKinnon's wife, won an Oscar in 2001 for their short film "The Accountant." Actress Joey Lauren Adams, who is from North Little Rock, will also be there.

The event is sold out. All the money will be used to support the continuing operations of the magazine.

Morgan Freeman

"We envision a lively and fun event that reflects the character and personality of The Oxford American, highlighting music, literature, food, art, and other creative expressions of Southern culture," said Warwick Sabin, publisher of the magazine. "It will be a sophisticated and entertaining affair anchored by celebrity presenters."

The Oxford American is produced at UCA. The publication is an award-winning national literary magazine about Southern culture but it has struggled financially. It produces four issues annually, including its popular annual southern music issue.

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