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We’re delighted to share a new review of The Cake from Theresa Bertram at BroadwayWorld. Bertram calls the production “a delicious blend of humor and thought-provoking conversation” and “the perfect date night,” describing it as “an evening that will have you laughing, thinking, and talking long after you leave the theatre.” She also praises the decision to stage the play in ACT II, writing that “having this particular play in their smaller area was a genius idea.” Scenic des

There is something especially meaningful about seeing a production reflected back through the eyes of an audience member. Our first review of The Cake is in, and we are deeply grateful for the care, thoughtfulness, and generosity Caleb Patton brought to his response. He writes: “We are incredibly fortunate to have a space like Argenta that is willing to take risks on contemporary scripts that speak directly to the complexities of the Southern experience. It is through these

The Cake is a comedy with heart, but underneath the laughter is a story asking deeply human questions about love, faith, family, and what it means to take a step toward someone else. For director Heather Dupree, who makes her ACT directorial debut with this production, the draw was immediate. “The story,” she says. “It’s beautifully written and very relevant to today. Both funny and poignant just like life.” Written by This Is Us writer Bekah Brunstetter, The Cake centers on

Opening Night is Friday, July 10, at ACT II The Sharon Heflin Performing Arts Center; preview photos by Corbin Pitts are available for publication. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 9, 2026 Media Contact: Coburn Goss, Artistic Director cgoss@argentatheatre.org 501-353-1443 NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR — Argenta Contemporary Theatre’s production of The Cake by Bekah Brunstetter, writer and producer of NBC’s This Is Us, is now in previews ahead of Opening Night on Friday, July 10. Directed b

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 7, 2026 Media Contact: Coburn Goss, Artistic Director Argenta Contemporary Theatre cgoss@argentatheatre.org 501-353-1443 New Arkansas plays take the stage September 13–15 at ACT II Sharon Heflin Performing Arts Center as part of the 2026 ACANSA Arts Festival of the South. NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR — Big stories. Bold ideas. Ten minutes at a time. ACANSA and Argenta Contemporary Theatre has announced the 2026 ACANSA/ACT 10-Minute Play Showcase, a celebra

What makes The Cake so funny, so timely, and so deeply human? In this short interview, Artistic Director Coburn Goss shares what first drew him to the play, why audiences are often surprised by it, and why he believes this story belongs on the ACT stage. Click here to read the transcript Come for "The Cake". Stay for the Comedy. Join us for unforgettable performances, meaningful conversations, and a vibrant community gathered around live theatre. Please note: The Cake include

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 17, 2026 Media Contact: Coburn Goss, Artistic Director cgoss@argentatheatre.org 501-353-1443 NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Argenta Contemporary Theatre (ACT) continues its 2026 Season of Community with The Cake, a funny, heartfelt comedy by acclaimed playwright and television writer Bekah Brunstetter. Best known for her work on the hit television series This Is Us, as well as Maid, American Gods, and Switched at Birth, Brunstetter has built a national r

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 10, 2026 Media Contact: Coburn Goss, Artistic Director cgoss@argentatheatre.org 501-353-1443 ARKANSAS FAVORITE NATALIE CANERDAY MAKES ARGENTA CONTEMPORARY THEATRE DEBUT IN THE CAKE NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Argenta Contemporary Theatre (ACT) is pleased to announce the cast and creative team for its upcoming production of The Cake by playwright Bekah Brunstetter (TV’s This is Us). Leading the cast in her ACT debut is Arkansas favorite Natalie Canerda

Argenta Contemporary Theatre’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory continues to build momentum with a new review from Koty Mansfield, who calls the production “a golden ticket to great theatre.” Mansfield’s review captures what audiences have been experiencing all week: a production that leans fully into imagination, performance, and the shared joy of live theatre. Mansfield calls Gus Howell's performance as a "revelation." "His ability to conjure raw emotion is beyond his year

Called “pure theatrical fun” by BroadwayWorld critic Theresa Bertram, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is delighting audiences at Argenta Contemporary Theatre. The production features a cast Bertram describes as “absolutely stacked with A-list local talent,” led by Case Dillard’s “mesmerizing” Willy Wonka—filled with a “playful unpredictability” that brings both magic and humanity to the role. At its heart, she highlights the connection between Wonka and Charlie as “a beauti

This summer, ACTing Up is led by a faculty of nationally and internationally recognized artists—all with deep connections to Arkansas. Our teaching artists bring decades of experience from Broadway tours, Off-Broadway productions, regional theatres, film sets, university classrooms, and creative studios across the country. Designed as an immersive, three-week experience, ACTing Up invites students to train, collaborate, and create in a supportive, ensemble-driven environment.

Photography by Royce West. Case Dillard doesn’t approach Willy Wonka as a fixed character—he treats him as something constantly shifting. In Argenta Contemporary Theatre’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, that unpredictability becomes the engine of the performance. For Dillard, the role isn’t defined by familiarity, but by contradiction. “The musical theatre canon has few roles that are as diverse and nuanced as Willy Wonka,” he says. “You never know what you’

Coburn Goss, Artistic Director Imagination. We all remember it from childhood. But somewhere, along the way, it can get lost, replaced by the daily grind, phones and social media. When programming the 2026 Season, I knew I wanted to give the audience a chance to use their imagination. Last year, I was fortunate enough to see the River City Men’s Chorus perform “Pure Imagination” and was reminded how transfixing it is. No other song heralds the imagination more (with the possi

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Rebecca Tennille rebecca@jpjconsult.com 501-786-0525 Argenta Contemporary Theatre Assembles Leading Arkansas Artists for "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" Staff and Creative Team Represent Decades of Theatrical Excellence in Central Arkansas NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (April 9, 2026) - Argenta Contemporary Theatre (ACT) has assembled a remarkable group of Arkansas artists for its upcoming production of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” uniting perfor

Argenta Contemporary Theatre Announces “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” Ticketing Information Tickets Go on Sale March 25 NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (March 24, 2026) - Today, the Argenta Contemporary Theatre (ACT) announced ticketing information for its upcoming production of Ronald Dahl’s "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” The show will run April 22 through May 9. Tickets will be available for purchase on Wednesday, March 25. Ticket prices for the preview are : $50 Prem

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (March 16, 2026) - Today, the Argenta Contemporary Theatre (ACT) announces the cast and crew for its upcoming production, “Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” The show will run April 22 through May 9. The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory…but only to a lucky few. Young Charlie Bucket and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination includin

Photos by Logan Keown. Under a single spotlight, Patsy Cline steps forward and sings—her voice filling the room, immediate and unmistakable. For Jessica Crenshaw, making her theatrical debut in that moment carried both vulnerability and strength. “There was a moment in tech rehearsals when the spotlight first comes on and it’s blinding. There is something humbling about that. It makes you feel vulnerable and yet there is so much power in that.” A few minutes later, another pr

We are honored to share that Theresa Bertram from BroadwayWorld has published a glowing review of Always…Patsy Cline , now playing at Argenta Contemporary Theatre’s Sharon Heflin ACT II Black Box. From the opening moments, the review recognizes the immersive environment created inside ACT II: “Argenta Contemporary Theatre has chosen a show that invites you to step inside, pull up a chair, and let the music wash over you.” Staged in an intimate black box configuration, the pro

Returning to North Little Rock after 25 years of living and working across the United States and Mexico has been both grounding and emotional. So much of my artistic life began here, and it feels right that my directorial debut at Argenta Contemporary Theatre is a story rooted in this region—one that celebrates friendship, music, and the spirit of the South. I remember when the first national tour of Always, Patsy Cline came back home to Arkansas Rep. That's right, this show

Information for new auditionees and old hands. January 6, 2026 Next weekend ACT is holding auditions for the first three shows of the season, Always, Patsy Kline , Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , and The Cake ! (The last three shows will audition in May) They are being held a little differently than before so we wanted to give you a simple walk through of what to expect, and how to prepare yourself. We hope this helps calm your nerves, and gives you insight. First, one of