Theresa Bertram

What did our critic think of PETER AND THE STARCATCHER at Performing Arts Center On The Square?

I love when a school gets creative and develops a concept that truly spotlights the strengths of their students. This was absolutely the case with Joe T. Robinson High School’s theatre program as they presented The Robinson Comedy, directed by Caitlin Peterson. The Senator Stage Team not only studied a wide range of public-domain works but transformed them into a highly entertaining, cleverly cohesive performance that celebrated theatrical history and youthful creativity all at once. 

My favorite Arkansas R&B group, the Rodney Block Collective, lit up the night at the first-ever Winterfest at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on November 18, turning Trojan Way into a jolly, joyful celebration under a canopy of dazzling holiday lights.

The holidays have officially arrived in Hot Springs, and the Music Box Lounge is quickly proving that it belongs on the city’s theatrical map.

What did our critic think of THE THANKSGIVING PLAY at The Weekend Theater? The Thanksgiving Play by Larissa FastHorse, running now through December 7 at The Weekend Theater in Little Rock, fills a surprising theatrical gap — where are all the Thanksgiving shows?

Morrilton High School’s Thespian Troupe 3131 presented a touching production of John Cariani’s Almost, Maine November 13–16, an event made even more magical by a rare natural coincidence. As these students took the stage beneath the play’s iconic Northern Lights, the real auroras were unexpectedly visible across Arkansas, an extraordinary sight this far south.

Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music Opera Theatre Workshop brought Mozart’s The Magic Flute to sparkling life November 16–17 in McBeth Recital Hall, offering an intimate, imaginative take on the beloved Singspiel.

Mutually Assured Destruction, performed November 14-15, marks the first production at White Hall High School under the direction of Coach Tyler Lewis, and what an exciting debut it was. This is Coach Lewis’s first year at White Hall, but he’s already making big strides in growing the theatre program. After seeing this show, it’s clear he’s sparked the theatre bug in his students in a big, meaningful way.

Hendrix College’s Department of Theatre & Dance cast a powerful spell over Conway with their November 12–15 production of ROSE AND THE RIME, written by Nathan Allen, Chris Mathews, and Jake Minton and directed by John J. Yorke.

Wildwood Park for the Arts is lighting up Little Rock again, quite literally, with Jo Jo Jo  JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, Directed by Bevan Keating, Choreographed by Christina Munoz, with Music Direction by Scott Whitfield and Produced by Bruce Rentz, now running through November 23.

What did our critic think of ELEPHANT'S GRAVEYARD at University Of The Ozarks - Walton Fine Arts Center Black Box?

Performing One Acts has increasingly become a popular way for schools to give more students meaningful stage time while exploring bold themes within a manageable rehearsal window, and Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia embraced that spirit beautifully with their Scene & Heard: Molly's Mainstage Theatre Festival! Presented November 8–10, the festival was entirely student-directed, student-designed, and student-produced, showcasing the remarkable creativity and leadership flourishing within their program. 

Williams Baptist University delivered a theatrical triumph with their production of Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty, performed November 6–8 inside the beautifully aged and undeniably charming Startup Chapel. This was my very first visit to WBU and let me tell you—what a fabulous introduction.

Arkansas State University–Beebe brought soaring bluegrass, southern storytelling, and undeniable charm to the stage November 6–9 with their production of BRIGHT STAR, directed by Ryan Gibbons and Hope Hargrove, with music direction by Frank Pitts and Sam Holtkamp.

Wildwood Park for the Arts transformed into a sparkling playground of wine, food, music, and creativity during its annual Toast & Taste fundraiser, a vibrant evening that showcased more than just wine. With over 70 wines, bourbon samplings, live performances, interactive experiences, and a breathtaking gallery display by local artist Tracy Rivers, the event proved once again why Wildwood

Sharpe Dunaway is no stranger to being in the spotlight, whether it be behind a microphone, behind the drums, or behind the video camera. And though he’s enjoyed his success and attention, he beams with pride when he talks about his children, father to Quint, Grey, and London (the youngest one who is taking great strides in the same vein as her father). In a free-wheeling conversation with Broadway World, Sharpe and his daughter London—a budding music journalist, concert photographer, and frontwoman in the making—dig into craft, community, and the power of doing the work. 

For those who struggle to understand and even shy away from the genius that is William Shakespeare, fear not—The University of Central Arkansas Theatre troupe’s production of Hamlet is here to change your mind.

Before attending TROUT FISHING IN AMERICA at the Windgate Center for Fine & Performing Arts on the University of Central Arkansas campus in Conway on Sunday, November 2, someone asked me the inevitable question: “What genre are they?” 

What did our critic think of WILLY WONKA JR at Pulaski Academy High School?

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Department of Theatre Arts took flight with their wildly imaginative production of Peter and the Starcatcher, which ran October 23–26.