Prior to becoming a writer for Broadway World, Theresa Bertram has had an extensive career in the media/entertainment business. Born in Las Vegas, Nevada to a professional poker-playing mother, Theresa’s formative years during the summer were spent being babysat by entertainers in the Vegas showrooms. “Having children sit in the poker rooms is frowned upon, so they would tuck me away in the various theatres to entertain me while my mother worked,”Theresa said. To this day, she still keeps in touch with the many musicians, magicians, and jugglers through Facebook. “Social media is a wonderful communication tool.” Theresa has played piano since the age of three and is a sought after regional pianist in Arkansas. “I’m more of an “ear” player, but I can play through sheet music when needed.” Theresa’s writing career began in high school when she was placed in journalism. “I didn’t even want to be in that class,” Theresa admitted. “I knew they put in a lot more hours than I really wanted to commit. I tried to get the counselor to change it, but she thought I would do really well. So, I stuck it out, became Sports Editor since I played volleyball in junior high and that was more sports than anyone else on the staff had (though my real love was feature profile writing), and ended up taking it to the next level in college. During college, Theresa studied mass communications and music at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway during the day and was a radio disc jockey at night. “My first radio job was at KVOM in my small town of Morrilton. I was only there for eight months, before I moved on up to Little Rock to work at B98.5--which later would be owned by Citidel. Ultimately, I moved over to Clear Channel stations and met a lot of country stars. Those were some fun years,” Bertram said. Theresa took a 10-year hiatus to start a family and finished up her educational journey with a Public Relations degree from Arkansas Tech University. “I was a better-focused student my second time around,” Theresa said. “I would be a professional student if I had the funds and time to do so.” With children old enough to allow Theresa to focus on professional pursuits once again, she began working as a producer/on-air talent in 2011 for AIRS Radio, which is a reading service for the blind and visually impaired offered by the Division Services for the Blind-a branch off of the Division of Human Services in Arkansas. She also started volunteering with local school associations and the historic Rialto Theatre. “I have always been attracted to this haunting building,” Theresa said referring to the Rialto. “It calls to you when you pass by it on the road. I love It.” Theresa does everything from producing music programs to making the popcorn. “It’s a great place to spend time and give my children a memorable place to grow up in. I will always love this theatre.” Theresa became a copy writer for the local newspaper, when the editor came early to one of the shows at the Rialto and offered her a job. “The best jobs are the ones that are given to you,” she said. “Also, I have a hard time saying ‘no’ to people if there is a way I can do what is requested.” A year later she was offered the editor position in the neighboring county. “You just never know what people are going to want from you. I keep thinking of that movie with Jim Carrey and how he had to say ‘yes’ to everything. If it isn’t illegal and time permits, I try to do it if I can.” Even though she has now taken over the Director position of AIRS Radio, she still finds time to attend as many shows as she can. “I have always been an entertainment cheerleader for as long as I can remember. If I think hard enough, I feel it probably started with those entertainers in Las Vegas. They performed for me, and I was happy to be the enthusiastic audience member night after night. It was a magical and unique childhood. I was very lucky.” Theresa is excited to be among the writing team of Broadway World. “I know when you think of Arkansas, ‘Broadway stars’ is not the first, or maybe even the last, thing that pops into your mind. I beg to differ though. Arkansas has an abundant amount of talent, and not only do we entertain for our own personal fancies, but we raise our children in this environment as well. We are a close-nit group of people, and I want to show how awesome Arkansas entertainers are to the rest of the world through Broadway World.”
Review: THE MUSIC MAN at The Pocket Community Theatre Marches Its Way To Sold Out Shows
August 10, 2022
August 10, 2022
What did our critic think of THE MUSIC MAN at The Pocket Community Theatre? The singing and dancing and acting were so much fun to watch.
Review: DISNEY'S DESCENDANTS THE MUSICAL at The Studio Theatre Enchants With A Dastardly Production
August 3, 2022
August 3, 2022
What did our critic think of DISNEY'S DESCENDANTS THE MUSICAL at The Studio Theatre? I thought the songs were catchy and fun was had by all
Review: THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG at Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre Ends the Season with Continuous Laughter
August 2, 2022
August 2, 2022
What did our critic think of THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG at Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre? She couldn't stop laughing through the whole show.
Review: CASA VALENTINA at The Weekend Theater will make you laugh, cry, think, and act
July 26, 2022
July 26, 2022
What did our critic think of CASA VALENTINA at The Weekend Theater? She thought it was thought-provoking and forces you to think deeper about acceptance and understanding of yourself and others.
Review: MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL at Argenta Community Theatre Addresses Racial Tension and Change During the Rise of Rock-N-Roll
July 21, 2022
July 21, 2022
What did our critic think of MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL at Argenta Community Theatre? This show will pull you into their world and won't let go until the end. It is that powerful!
Review: SHREK! THE MUSICAL at Murry's Dinner Playhouse is Fun for The Entire Family
July 19, 2022
July 19, 2022
What did our critic think of SHREK! THE MUSICAL at Murry's Dinner Playhouse? The critic couldn't stop laughing, and loved every minute of it.
Review: MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940 at Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre keeps us guessing to the very end
July 18, 2022
July 18, 2022
What did our critic think of MUSICAL COMEDY MURDERS OF 1940 at Searcy Summer Dinner Theatre? She thought it was creative, well delivered, funny, and the dinner was delicious.
Review: THE STAR-SPANGLED GIRL at Batesville Community Theatre opens in new venue
July 11, 2022
July 11, 2022
What did our critic think of THE STAR-SPANGLED GIRL at Batesville Community Theatre? Even though the Batesville Community Theatre has been around for 50 years, this was my first time visiting this troupe, who recently moved into a new facility at 1295 E Main Street, in Batesville. To christen the new building, BCT is performing THE STAR-SPANGLED GIRL by Neil Simon through Sunday, July 10.
Review: THE STAR-SPANGLED GIRL at Batesville Community Theatre Opens in New Venue
July 10, 2022
July 10, 2022
What did our critic think of THE STAR-SPANGLED GIRL at Batesville Community Theatre? She thought the cast had great chemistry and loved the new facility.
Review: DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at The Royal Theatre performs to sold out shows
June 26, 2022
June 26, 2022
What did our critic think of DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at The Royal Theatre? She thought the performers could be actual Disney charaters.
Review: Make Way For DISNEY'S MOANA, JR. at Red Curtain Theatre
June 20, 2022
June 20, 2022
What did our critic think of DISNEY'S MOANA JR at Red Curtain Theatre? She thought the show really showed off how hard the performers worked during their two-week intensive workshop.
Review: GYPSY at The Studio Theatre brings burlesque to central Arkansas
June 19, 2022
June 19, 2022
What did our critic think of GYPSY at The Studio Theatre? Theresa thought the show had excellent singing, dancing, and took the mother/daughter relationships to the next level.
BWW Review: ALWAYS....PATSY CLINE at The Weekend Theater is the show to see this summer
June 13, 2022
June 13, 2022
What did our critic think of ALWAYS....PATSY CLINE at The Weekend Theater? She thought the talent in this show is phenomenal and so funny that there were tears.
BWW Review: THE WIZARD OF OZ at Argenta Community Theatre Performs to Sold out Shows
May 9, 2022
May 9, 2022
To finish out the season of the grand re-opening (due to.... well, you know), everyone was off to see the Wizard at the Argenta Community Theater, 405 Main Street, in North Little Rock, April 27-May 7. Written by L. Frank Baum and directed by Vincent Insalaco, this WIZARD OF OZ was a modified version of the original that gave the show a fresher feel, but still held on to the theme that there was 'no place like home.'
BWW Review: THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL at Hot Springs School District Joyce L. Littleton Craft Auditorium
May 8, 2022
May 8, 2022
I always enjoy going to Hot Springs, but this time my Percy Jackson enthusiast son insisted that we needed to go see THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL with the Hot Springs School District 7-12 Theatre troupe presented in the beautiful Joyce L. Littleton Craft Auditorium, 401 Emory Street, in Hot Springs, and I'm so glad we did. If I'm not mistaken, this is the first time I have heard of this musical being performed in Arkansas, which is super cool. The show was upbeat, the dancers were great, and the music was rockin'!
BWW Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at University Of Central Arkansas Theatre
May 5, 2022
May 5, 2022
What horrors can come from an exotic plant after a 'total eclipse from the sun?' Imagine my shock during the production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at The University of Central Arkansas Theatre, 201 South Donaghey, in Conway, Friday, April 22, when the 'mean green mother from outer space' ate everyone! What??? That did NOT happen in the movie, but boy was it delightful in a sad, strange sort of way. The cast and crew had me dying...with laughter through the whole show.
BWW Review: GUYS & DOLLS at Magnolia Performing Arts Center
May 2, 2022
May 2, 2022
As luck would have it for this lady, I had the privilege to review GUYS & DOLLS at Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia Sunday, April 24, and let me tell you, hearing those performers sing was well worth the three-hour drive. The Musical Theatre program at SAU is thriving, and the future of those actors is bright!
BWW Review: OUR TOWN at Arkansas State University Beebe
April 27, 2022
April 27, 2022
Set in Grover's Corner, New Hampshire, OUR TOWN, written by Thronton Wilder in 1937, is a staple for theaters everywhere, and it is tradition that every theater performs it, at least, once. And though I've seen it several times, I am always interested to see how each company interprets this piece of classic literature. I was especially excited to do my first college review with the Arkansas State University-Beebe's Theatre Department Thursday, April 21, because when you go to a theater where education is top priority, intriguing scenarios can develop. Also, my daughter has accepted a scholarship to this program in the fall, so I wanted to check it out, and I am happy that I did.
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