Arkansas Theatre Newsroom

What did our critic think of STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Murry's Dinner Playhouse?

Nominations are now open for the 2024 BroadwayWorld Arkansas Awards. The 2024 Regional Awards honor productions which had their first performance between October 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024.

𝘼 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙣 navigates the crossroads of home and hope

Their blend of rock, jazz, and brass elements has created some of the most memorable and innovative music in the industry, and the emotions that they elicited from their fans (including myself) were electrifying. This is a very fleeting moment that I will never forget.

What did our critic think of INSPECTOR SNOW AND TOTO, TOO at The Lantern Theatre?

Truthfully, it is big shoes to fill when the expectation on a show is so high due to how accessible the Broadway show was to us, but the new Angelica cast blew us all away.  We soaked in every emotion they were giving us, and there were many tears all around me during the sad moments. 

Magical! The Royal Theatre, 111 S Market St, in Benton, brought pure, heart wrenching magic with their production of HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, based on the Victor Hugo novel and Book by Peter Parnell, with songs from the Disney film written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz. Because I have not read the story or watched the movie, I really didn’t know what I was about to experience, and I’m thrilled about that, because wow! This one blew me away! Of course, I knew it would when I saw that the creative team was led by Co-Directors Bob Bidewell and Dariane LyJoi Mull and Music Director Angela Coller. The whole performance was spectacular, but the music....the music....was Broadway worthy.

Young Players will present MATILDA at the Royal Theatre. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Enjoy 𝘼 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙪𝙣: See T2's Timely Classic First

Based in Manila, which is just about as far northeast as you can go before driving into Missouri, Studio 42 & Co can be found fostering transformative experiences that nurture personal growth, creative expression, and collaborative skills in their young performers. This is true for their most recent production of SHREK THE MUSICAL, JR, which was presented in the Manila High School Auditorium August 1-4, and Directed by Executive Director Kennedy Joslynn Baker. Everyone from the young to young at heart was entertained by the humor, catchy songs, and relatable characters that graced the stage. We all had a great time.  

The Royal Players revealed their 2024-25 season at the historic Royal Theatre. See full programming and learn how to purchase tickets.

The Young Players revealed their 2024-25 season featuring two Broadway Junior shows and three full-length productions. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

The dedicated and passionate members stands as a testament to the remarkable creativity and spirit that define our local theater scene. This group is amazing! 

My favorite comedians are at it again, except this time they have a political theme in honor of the upcoming elections. The Main Thing Comedy Trio at The Joint Comedy Theater, 301 Main St #102, in North Little Rock, bring to you ELECTILE DYSFUNCTION, and you have one more weekend, Aug. 23 & 24, to catch it. In fact, this one is so popular, it is selling out, and I’m as serious as a little baby owl. 

What did our critic think of JITNEY at Arkansas Repertory Theatre?

Located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the Writers’ Colony at Dairy Hollow (WCDH) offers the 2024 Moondancer Fellowship for authors who express their passion for the natural world and concern for the environment through their writing. This fellowship is open to poets, fiction writers, playwrights, screenwriters, essayists, memoirists, and columnists. Prior publication is not a requirement.

Talent abounds in Fort Smith Little Theatre’s HELLO, DOLLY, which ran from July 18-Aug. 3, and if you missed it, you missed something truly special. In just a small area of space, they squeezed in the different scenes, the beautiful, flowy dresses, and the enchanting numbers that had us smiling from beginning to end. By the finale, you were hoping that Dolly would find your perfect match. 

What did our critic think of COME FROM AWAY at Robinson Center?

What did our critic think of DISNEY AND CAMERON MACKINTOSH'S MARY POPPINS at The Pocket Community Theatre?

A Raisin in the Sun, the American classic by Lorraine Hansberry, will open in TheatreSquared's West Theatre on Aug. 21 and run through Sept. 15.

What did our critic think of DISNEY'S THE LITTLE MERMAID at Ouachita Little Theatre?

Benton business owner Audra McAnally has made it into the top 10 at this year's Rocklahoma, one of the biggest Labor Day weekend events in the country. In just three weeks, Pryor, Oklahoma will welcome more than 100,000 Rock & Roll enthusiasts to its small town for the 17th annual Rock & Roll Music Festival, and McAnally, the first Arkansan to make the top 10, is vying to be “the perfect woman that embodies Rock & Roll” to represent the festival all Labor Day Weekend.

What did our critic think of FINAL BOW at Grant County Community Theater?

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.  

What did our critic think of GREASE THE MUSICAL at Argenta Contemporary Theatre?