Theresa Bertram

A festive whirlwind of skits, songs, jokes, and just enough dance to keep your toes tapping, A VERY MERRY MUSIC BOX CHRISTMAS is everything you want a holiday variety show to be—warm, silly, tuneful, and absolutely packed with personality.

Hot Springs audiences received an early holiday treat with The Pocket Community Theatre’s spirited and joyfully chaotic production of THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER, which ran November 21–23 under the direction of Bekah Wilson. Adapted for the stage by Barbara Robinson from her beloved novel, this family-friendly classic was the perfect kickoff to the festive season, bringing packed houses and hearty laughter to the Spa City.  

When snowflakes sparkle across the stage and the familiar strains of the first chords begin, Murry’s Dinner Playhouse’s production of Frozen the Musical, with Music and Lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, Book by Jennifer Lee, and Directed by Don Bolinger, makes one thing immediately clear: this is going to be something special. 

What did our critic think of SHE LOVES ME at The Pocket Community Theatre?

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.