Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

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

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