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.”
August 6, 2025
Homecoming. That’s what this past Monday night at CALS Ron Robinson felt like for me. A delightful homecoming where you literally love and adore all your kinfolks. When Theresa invited me to review 24 HOUR PLAYS: LITTLE ROCK, I gladly accepted. Heck! I already had my ticket to attend.
August 4, 2025
Upon being asked what kind of music he performs, Trey Johnson said something to the effect of, “That’s the question, isn’t it?” And, of course, it certainly is.
August 4, 2025
Actors Theatre of Little Rock, 1601 S Louisiana St. In Little Rock, continues to deliver production after production that speaks directly to my soul, and their most recent musical, West Side Story, is no exception.
August 3, 2025
Confession time — I didn’t read most of the required reading in school. I had a friend who struggled in math but loved reading, and I excelled in math but couldn’t focus on the classics.
August 1, 2025
Somewhere over the rainbow, I found myself transported to a land of wonder and imagination, right inside the Don Tyson School of Innovation’s Pat Ellison Performing Arts Center. Arts One Presents waved their theatrical wand and brought The Wizard of Oz to life in a vibrant, heart-filled production that ran from July 17–27.
July 29, 2025
With Music and Lyrics by the Queen herself, Book by Patricia Resnick and Directed by my favorite Caelon Colbert, this production follows closely to the movie, or so I was told by the women sitting in front of me and insisted that I immediately watch the movie (I haven’t, but it is on my list).
July 26, 2025
I’ve often said I was born in the wrong decade when it comes to music. I would have loved to be part of The Shirelles, The Supremes, The Ronettes, or The Marvelettes. Like Huey Calhoun says in Memphis the Musical, this is the music of my soul! So, anytime I get the chance to see this musically historical experience, I go.
July 26, 2025
The Southern Theatre Company, created by Samuel Brett Williams, Kevin Day, and Christi Day, made its bold debut July 18–20 with Derby Day, a play penned by Arkansas native Samuel Brett Williams.
July 23, 2025
What did our critic think of CABARET at Undercurrent Collective?
July 23, 2025
Housed in just about as far west as you can go in Arkansas, the Fort Smith Little Theatre pays homage to Oklahoma! from now through August 2.
July 21, 2025
The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock is a radiant beacon of creativity in Central Arkansas where imagination takes shape in architecture, blooms on canvas, and dances through a year-round tapestry of enriching programs and performances.
July 16, 2025
When I first heard that HAIR was coming to the Arkansas Repertory Theatre stage, which is running through July 27, my eyebrows were raised. With book and lyrics by Jerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot, this groundbreaking rock musical has long carried a reputation for its bold themes and boundary-pushing content.
July 13, 2025
Josh Meloy took the stage at First Financial Music Hall in El Dorado on June 27, and the night turned out to be exactly what I needed.
July 10, 2025
The Hot Springs Village Players took a bold and invigorating step into the world of classical theatre June 27-29, with their recent production of Henry V.
July 7, 2025
What did our critic think of AGATHA CHRISTIE'S A MURDER IS ANNOUNCED at Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre?
July 3, 2025
There’s no place like Murry’s Dinner Playhouse—especially when it whisks you away from Little Rock and over the rainbow to the magical land of Oz. Directed and choreographed by Moriah Patterson, this charming production of The Wizard of Oz, based on L. Frank Baum’s timeless novel, comes to life with a generous helping of theatrical magic accompanied by the yummy buffet of delectable goodness.
July 2, 2025
It was the night of June 20th, 2025, and I had not anticipated what I was walking into. At the First Financial Music Hall of El Dorado, I experienced my first ever Juneteenth celebration with BOOSIE, and I assure you: I will be back for more. The crowd was loud, the drinks were flowing, and the night was over before I knew it.
June 27, 2025
What did our critic think of THE SOUND OF MUSIC at The Center For The Arts?
June 27, 2025
Oh what a beautiful sound that came out of the ASU Newport Center for the Arts when the Jackson County Community Theatre presented Rodgers & Hammerstein’s OKLAHOMA! this past weekend, June 20–22.
June 26, 2025
Looking for a good laugh? Don’t miss your chance to see Ken Ludwig’s The Three Musketeers with UCA Summer Theatre, which is running through July 29 at the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts in Conway! Directed by the ever-talented Chris Fritzges, this swashbuckling adventure is packed with some of my favorite Arkansas theatre pros (seriously, I’d follow them anywhere). They had me laughing so hard, I was wiping away tears. Grab your tickets before the final curtain falls!
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