Production photography by Brandon Markin. In Misery, few objects carry more dread than the sledgehammer. Onstage, though, that famous threat has to do something paradoxical: it must look heavy, dangerous, and completely real while remaining safe enough to perform with night after night. That problem — and dozens of others audiences may never consciously notice — falls to artists like Props Specialist Rick Nicholas and Costume Designer Shelly Hall, whose work helps make ACT’s

Production photography by Brandon Markin. In Misery, violence is rarely just about the moment of impact. It lives in anticipation, imbalance, and the shifting control between Annie Wilkes and Paul Sheldon. For ACT’s production, Fight Choreographer Brett Ihler brings decades of experience as both a performer and choreographer to the work. His approach starts with a simple principle: staged violence is not about overpowering another actor. It is about partnership. “Staged viole

BroadwayWorld’s Theresa Bertram attended the first preview of ACT’s Misery and came away calling it “a deliciously intense night of theatre” — and, for fans of psychological thrillers, “the show to see.” Her review praises the performances, the physical tension of the production, and the technical work that makes the world of Misery feel so immediate. “This woman is a powerhouse!” Bertram singles out Mary Twedt’s performance as Annie Wilkes, calling her “terrifying, unpredict

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 14, 2026 Media Contact: Coburn Goss, Artistic Director Argenta Contemporary Theatre cgoss@argentatheatre.org 501-353-1443 Previews begin tonight for Stephen King’s psychological thriller, followed by VIP Opening Night Friday, October 16. NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — After weeks of rehearsal, design, and technical work, Misery steps into the spotlight tonight at Argenta Contemporary Theatre. Previews begin October 14–15, followed by a VIP Opening Ni

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 22, 2026 Media Contact: Coburn Goss, Artistic Director Argenta Contemporary Theatre cgoss@argentatheatre.org 501-353-1443 Mary Twedt, Coburn Goss and Jason Scott Morgan lead the cast of Stephen King’s psychological thriller, directed by Brandon Paul Eells NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Argenta Contemporary Theatre will present MISERY, William Goldman’s stage adaptation of Stephen King’s bestselling novel, October 14–November 1, 2026, at ACT in North