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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 9, 2026 Media Contact: Coburn Goss, Artistic Director Argenta Contemporary Theatre cgoss@argentatheatre.org 501-353-1443 Six new Arkansas plays will be featured September 13–15 at ACT II Sharon Heflin Performing Arts Center as part of the 2026 ACANSA Festival. NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR — Big stories. Bold ideas. Ten minutes at a time. ACANSA and Argenta Contemporary Theatre are proud to announce the selected plays and creative teams for the ACANSA

Another great review is in for Hands on a Hardbody! Writing for BroadwayWorld, Theresa Bertram came to ACT ready for an unusual musical about ten people standing around a pickup truck. She left completely invested in who would be the last one standing. What begins as a wonderfully strange competition becomes something much deeper as we discover why each contestant needs that truck—and what winning could mean for their lives. “Being right there completely engulfed me in the st

Our first review of Hands on a Hardbody is in, and Caleb Patton of Central Arkansas Community Theatre found a lot to celebrate—from the cast and creative team to the full-size truck at the center of the action. But what resonated most with us was his recognition of something we’ve been working toward throughout this season: “There’s a real throughline this season of shows that hold up an honest mirror to the communities we actually live in here in Arkansas and across the Sout

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 25, 2026 Media Contact: Coburn Goss, Artistic Director Argenta Contemporary Theatre cgoss@argentatheatre.org 501-353-1443 Seven-production season dedicated to ACT co-founder Vincent Insalaco features beloved musicals, landmark American plays, contemporary favorites and an audience-selected holiday production NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — August 275 2026 — Argenta Contemporary Theatre (ACT) has announced its 2027 season, “What’s Old Is New Again,” a se

Before ten contestants can put their hands on a truck and compete for the chance to drive it home, ACT has to get that truck onto the stage. Ours arrived from New York in four massive wooden shipping crates—each weighing roughly 500 pounds. Inside was the centerpiece of Hands on a Hardbody: the shell of a real Nissan Hardbody, specially adapted so actors can climb, dance, and move on it throughout the production. The video captures ACT Technical Director & Venue Manager Jon H

The Jacksonville native and New York-based artist returns home to direct Hands on a Hardbody at ACT. There is something special about welcoming an Arkansas artist home—especially when their career has carried them from Central Arkansas to stages across the country and around the world. Argenta Contemporary Theatre is proud to welcome DeLance Minefee as the guest director of Hands on a Hardbody, running August 26–September 6. Originally from Jacksonville, Arkansas, and now bas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 12, 2026 Media Contact: Coburn Goss, Artistic Director Argenta Contemporary Theatre cgoss@argentatheatre.org 501-353-1443 Live performances, prizes and a first look at what’s coming to ACT highlight the one-night celebration in the Argenta Arts District NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — What’s next at ACT? Audiences will find out Monday, August 24, when Argenta Contemporary Theatre opens its doors for the ACT 2027 Season Launch Party & Fundraiser. The eve

August 4, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Coburn Goss, Artistic Director cgoss@argentatheatre.org 501-353-1443 Tickets go on sale Wednesday, August 5, for the heartfelt musical about ten Texans, one truck and the chance to change their lives NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Before online giveaways and viral challenges, there were radio contests, pickup trucks and the promise of a prize that could change your life. Argenta Contemporary Theatre (ACT) is bringing that distinc

July 30, 2026 For Immediate Release Media Contact: Jordan Johnson, JPJ Consulting Jordan@jpjconsult.com 501-244-9191 We are excited to share with you that Argenta Contemporary Theatre (ACT) has reached a favorable resolution and milestone. On July 28, 2026, we executed an agreement with Stage 13 which resolves our litigation related to last year's departure of some former employees. Under this agreement, Stage 13 will pay ACT $150,000. Additionally, the Stage 13 defendants an

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.