Prior to becoming a writer for Broadway World, Theresa Bertram has had an extensive career in the media/entertainment business. Born in Las Vegas, Nevada to a professional poker-playing mother, Theresa’s formative years during the summer were spent being babysat by entertainers in the Vegas showrooms. “Having children sit in the poker rooms is frowned upon, so they would tuck me away in the various theatres to entertain me while my mother worked,”Theresa said. To this day, she still keeps in touch with the many musicians, magicians, and jugglers through Facebook. “Social media is a wonderful communication tool.” Theresa has played piano since the age of three and is a sought after regional pianist in Arkansas. “I’m more of an “ear” player, but I can play through sheet music when needed.” Theresa’s writing career began in high school when she was placed in journalism. “I didn’t even want to be in that class,” Theresa admitted. “I knew they put in a lot more hours than I really wanted to commit. I tried to get the counselor to change it, but she thought I would do really well. So, I stuck it out, became Sports Editor since I played volleyball in junior high and that was more sports than anyone else on the staff had (though my real love was feature profile writing), and ended up taking it to the next level in college. During college, Theresa studied mass communications and music at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway during the day and was a radio disc jockey at night. “My first radio job was at KVOM in my small town of Morrilton. I was only there for eight months, before I moved on up to Little Rock to work at B98.5--which later would be owned by Citidel. Ultimately, I moved over to Clear Channel stations and met a lot of country stars. Those were some fun years,” Bertram said. Theresa took a 10-year hiatus to start a family and finished up her educational journey with a Public Relations degree from Arkansas Tech University. “I was a better-focused student my second time around,” Theresa said. “I would be a professional student if I had the funds and time to do so.” With children old enough to allow Theresa to focus on professional pursuits once again, she began working as a producer/on-air talent in 2011 for AIRS Radio, which is a reading service for the blind and visually impaired offered by the Division Services for the Blind-a branch off of the Division of Human Services in Arkansas. She also started volunteering with local school associations and the historic Rialto Theatre. “I have always been attracted to this haunting building,” Theresa said referring to the Rialto. “It calls to you when you pass by it on the road. I love It.” Theresa does everything from producing music programs to making the popcorn. “It’s a great place to spend time and give my children a memorable place to grow up in. I will always love this theatre.” Theresa became a copy writer for the local newspaper, when the editor came early to one of the shows at the Rialto and offered her a job. “The best jobs are the ones that are given to you,” she said. “Also, I have a hard time saying ‘no’ to people if there is a way I can do what is requested.” A year later she was offered the editor position in the neighboring county. “You just never know what people are going to want from you. I keep thinking of that movie with Jim Carrey and how he had to say ‘yes’ to everything. If it isn’t illegal and time permits, I try to do it if I can.” Even though she has now taken over the Director position of AIRS Radio, she still finds time to attend as many shows as she can. “I have always been an entertainment cheerleader for as long as I can remember. If I think hard enough, I feel it probably started with those entertainers in Las Vegas. They performed for me, and I was happy to be the enthusiastic audience member night after night. It was a magical and unique childhood. I was very lucky.” Theresa is excited to be among the writing team of Broadway World. “I know when you think of Arkansas, ‘Broadway stars’ is not the first, or maybe even the last, thing that pops into your mind. I beg to differ though. Arkansas has an abundant amount of talent, and not only do we entertain for our own personal fancies, but we raise our children in this environment as well. We are a close-nit group of people, and I want to show how awesome Arkansas entertainers are to the rest of the world through Broadway World.”
October 30, 2025
I’m beginning to learn there’s a sense of momentum in everything, even in my own emotions. Upon receiving the opportunity to review The Runarounds in Little Rock’s Rev Room, my reaction had layers of incremental excitement.
October 27, 2025
What did our critic think of ANTIGONE at The Lantern Theatre?
October 27, 2025
What did our critic think of BEETLEJUICE JR at Red Curtain Theatre?
October 24, 2025
Ballet Arkansas once again proved that storytelling through movement can be just as chilling and evocative as any spoken tale with The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, which haunted the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts October 9–12. Choreographed by the ever-brilliant Michael Fothergill, this adaptation of Washington Irving’s ghostly classic mesmerized audiences with an intoxicating blend of grace, suspense, and gothic beauty—all set to an exquisite score featuring music by Dimitri Shostakovich, Francis Poulenc, Alfred Schnittke, Benjamin Britten, and Arnold Schoenberg.
October 23, 2025
Have you ever laughed so hard you nearly spit out your custom made green pina colada? That’s the kind of delightfully zany fun waiting for you at Young Frankenstein, now playing at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse in Little Rock through November 8. With Mel Brooks’ outrageous humor, toe-tapping musical numbers, and Murry’s signature blend of good food and great theatre, this production is an absolute scream—literally.
October 22, 2025
Have you ever done the “Time Warp” in a church basement? That is the experience when you attend The Rocky Horror Show with Actors Theatre of Little Rock (ATLR), located in the Quapaw United Methodist Church in Little Rock.
October 20, 2025
Arts One Presents took a daring leap into the world of youth empowerment with their first-ever Youth Driven Theatre production, James and the Giant Peach, performed October 9–11 at The Medium in Springdale, and what a peachy debut it was!
October 18, 2025
I never know what I am going to encounter at The Weekend Theater in Little Rock, but their newest offering exceeded my expectations.
October 17, 2025
I get excited when I hear there is something to see that is new to me, BUT it’s even more thrilling when it is a new production for the whole world to see. Local talent Brandon Nichols debuted THE EMBER SOCIETY – A NEW MUSICAL at my new favorite venue, Birdie’s Cabaret Theatre and Lounge, Friday, October 10, to a crowd full of the who’s who of Central Arkansas theatre.
October 15, 2025
Kicking off my new series spotlighting families in Arkansas theatre, I sat down with backstage dynamo Billie Overstreet and her on-stage powerhouse daughter Belle (my very first profile in the series) just as The Rocky Horror Show struts into Actors Theatre of Little Rock, October 15–31.
October 14, 2025
October is the month for the spooky productions, and though DISNEY’S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL doesn’t seem like a scary show, I assure you that high school, in general, is terrifying! So with that said, I was able to sit with a bunch of teenagers during a school performance at Wildwood Park for the Arts in Little Rock..... and had the best time!
October 13, 2025
What did our critic think of THE ADDAMS FAMILY at The Forum? The production was a graveyard smash, the kind that makes you laugh, tap your toes, and maybe even snap your fingers twice.
October 13, 2025
Downtown Little Rock pulsed with glitter, fishnets, and pure theatrical electricity on October 2 as The Rocky Horror Show took over Club Sway at 412 S. Louisiana Street, and what a delightfully decadent night it was! This was my first visit to Sway, and let me tell you, I had the best time.
October 13, 2025
What did our critic think of THE HAUNTING OF HILL HOUSE at The Pocket Community Theatre?
October 9, 2025
I don’t want to sound biased about the various Universities, but I think that Ouachita Baptist University is possibly my favorite private school for music and theatre. The sounds that came out of Verser Theatre.
October 7, 2025
What did our critic think of WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO AND JULIET at Pulaski Academy High School?
October 6, 2025
What did our critic think of DEATH OF KINGS at Arkansas Museum Of Fine Arts?
October 4, 2025
What did our critic think of FINDING NEMO JR at Arts & Science Center For Southeast Arkansas?
October 4, 2025
What did our critic think of SPEAK OF THE GHOUL at Birdie's Cabaret Theater & Lounge?
October 3, 2025
It is always exciting to hear of a new venue opening, and when I heard it was in my favorite city, I had to check it out. My friends Dan Brashears, Steven Mitchell, and Levi Wilson have transformed one of the historic buildings on Park Avenue on the north end of the main strip into a charming theatre that will have you coming back again and again. It's exciting, it's beautiful, and it has the Hot Springs charm!
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