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.”
Review: HENRY V at Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre
August 6, 2024
August 6, 2024
It is not truly summer until we’ve seen a few Shakespearean plays, so we were thrilled when we heard Arkansas Shakespeare Theatre was bringing HENRY V to various locations in Arkansas. Under new leadership and nonprofit status, AST had a limited run from July 10 through July 15 before heading up north to perform with Shake on the Lake in New York. I happened to catch them at Witherspoon Auditorium at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville on the 15th and was thrilled to hear the happiness coming from this welcoming community.
Review: GREASE Is the Word at Argenta Contemporary Theatre
August 5, 2024
August 5, 2024
What did our critic think of GREASE THE MUSICAL at Argenta Contemporary Theatre?
Review: ROALD DAHL'S MATILDA at Arts & Science Center For Southeast Arkansas
August 3, 2024
August 3, 2024
What did our critic think of ROALD DAHL'S MATILDA at Arts & Science Center For Southeast Arkansas?
GREASE and Other Events at Argenta Contemporary Theatre
August 3, 2024
August 3, 2024
The Argenta Contemporary Theatre is a staple in North Little Rock with so much to offer. They have classes for youth and adults, frequent sold-out shows, dinner theatre, and a beautiful venue to hold meetings and special events. If you are not acquainted with their amazing facility, there are so many reasons to check them out.
Review: LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL at The Studio Theatre
August 1, 2024
August 1, 2024
Omigod you guys! There is only one more weekend left, August 1-4, to catch LEGALLY BLONDE, a fantastic celebration of personal growth all wrapped up in pink at The Studio Theatre, 320 W 7th St, in Little Rock, assuming that there are tickets left.
Review: DROWSY CHAPERONE at Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre
July 31, 2024
July 31, 2024
Dinner and a show is the best way to spend an evening, and it’s even better when the talent is as impressive as the cast in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE at the Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre. Paying homage to the 1920s era of musical theater, this show is hilarious! I loved every minute of it, and you will too. With only one more weekend to go Thursday, August 1 through Saturday, August 3, you need to get your tickets, if there are any left.
Review: DISNEY AND CAMERON MACKINTOSH'S MARY POPPINS at South Arkansas Arts Center
July 26, 2024
July 26, 2024
What did our critic think of DISNEY AND CAMERON MACKINTOSH'S MARY POPPINS at South Arkansas Arts Center?
Review: A TALE OF TWO FLURFFYS at Arkansas Museum Of Fine Arts
July 25, 2024
July 25, 2024
Bonjour! If you are looking for an international trip with the tiny kiddos but don’t necessarily want to fly to Paris, join our friends at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts in Little Rock for their final showing of A TALE OF TWO FLURFFYS this Saturday, July 27 at 11am and again at 12pm as Flurffy goes missing.
Review: SISTER ACT JR at The Royal Theatre
July 24, 2024
July 24, 2024
Sister Act ranks pretty high up as one of my favorite movies, so getting to see SISTER ACT JR at The Royal Theatre in Benton was a real treat. From July 11-21, the Young Players performed to packed houses with some of those shows being sold out. It is astounding that these thespians put out such a great performance. I am excited to continue to watch them grow throughout their theatrical endeavors.
Review: JULIUS CAESAR at The Weekend Theater
July 24, 2024
July 24, 2024
What did our critic think of JULIUS CAESAR at The Weekend Theater?
Review: WE THE PEOPLE THE MUSICAL at Twin Lakes Playhouse
July 23, 2024
July 23, 2024
Sponsored by the Captain Nathan Watkins Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution in Mountain Home, The Twin Lakes Playhouse, 600 West Sixth Street, celebrated our nations independence by presenting WE THE PEOPLE THE MUSICAL by Pat Cook June 28 through July 14 to a very appreciative audience.
Review: JERSEY BOYS at Murry's Dinner Playhouse
July 22, 2024
July 22, 2024
What did our critic think of JERSEY BOYS at Murry's Dinner Playhouse?
Review: FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL at Arkansas Repertory Theatre
July 21, 2024
July 21, 2024
What did our critic think of FOOTLOOSE THE MUSICAL at Arkansas Repertory Theatre?
Creative Descriptions to Provide Audio Descriptions for COME FROM AWAY at Robinson Center
July 20, 2024
July 20, 2024
Creative Descriptions, a live audio description service based in Little Rock, is collaborating with Celebrity Attractions and Robinson Center to provide real time audio description for the upcoming Broadway tour production of Come From Away.
Review: CHICAGO THE MUSICAL at Actors Theatre Of Little Rock
July 19, 2024
July 19, 2024
I don’t have the proper words to express my elation felt at Actors Theatre of Little Rock’s immersive production of CHICAGO THE MUSICAL, which runs through July 27. If you do not have your tickets, get them now. It’s selling out fast, and you don’t want your experience of this show to be from listening to your friends about how great it was. Seriously, this group of performers have developed magic in the basement of the Quapaw United Methodist Church, and I absolutely love love love this show!
Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Lewisville Playhouse
July 18, 2024
July 18, 2024
The cast was everything I thought a cast near Dallas would be. They were dynamic, the music was executed well, and the storytelling flowed from beginning to end.
Review: SWEENEY TODD: DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET at The Forum
July 16, 2024
July 16, 2024
What did our critic think of SWEENEY TODD: DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET at The Forum?
Review: REMNANTS OF ROCK at Rialto Community Theatre
July 9, 2024
July 9, 2024
Generations of fans were dancing and singing together to the music that changed the landscape of an era, embracing the artists that ushered in Rock-n-Roll. It was a fun night had by all, and we didn’t want it to end.
Review: SILENCE IN THE JUNGLE at Melonlight Ballroom
July 8, 2024
July 8, 2024
This immersive experience has suspense, mystery, adventure, and the supernatural, and watching this amazing couple dance will have you illuminating starry-heart eyes even when the lights are out.
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