About - Argenta Community Theater

About Us

The Judy Kohn Tenenbaum Argenta Community Theater

In celebration of ACT’s Tenth Anniversary in 2020, the building at 405 Main St. in North Little Rock’s Argenta Arts District has been officially re-named The Judy Kohn Tenenbaum Argenta Community Theater in honor of ACT Co-Founder and matriarch, Judy Kohn Tenenbaum, affectionately known by actors, crew members staff and students as “Mama Judy.” The vision and generosity of Judy and her dear friend and co-founder Vincent Insalaco over the theater’s first ten years has fueled the growth of the Argenta Community Theater from a seed of an idea to a strongly cemented cornerstone in the central Arkansas arts community. With education and community outreach as the pillars of ACT’s growth and development, Judy has nurtured the growth of this institution that has come to mean so much to so many. Judy passed unexpectedly in June of 2021, and we are grateful that this institution stands as a monument to her commitment to the arts and her community.

About ACT

Located at 405 Main Street, in the heart of North Little Rock’s Argenta Arts District, the Argenta Community Theater serves as a centerpiece of a vibrant artistic community. From crowd-pleasing musicals to vibrant new works to theatrical classics, there is truly something for everyone to love on the ACT stage. But, there is so much more to this state of the art facility than just our top-notch plays and musicals! Argenta also coordinates educational programs for all ages, hosts community and cultural events, and is available as a flexible venue for weddings, events, performances and more. Founded in 2010 by Vincent Insalaco and Judy Tenenbaum, The Argenta Community Theater strives to bring performance and participation in the arts to Central Arkansas now, and for generations to come.

Our Mission

The Argenta Community Theater (ACT) is a non-profit organization committed to serving the community through education and advancement of the performing arts. Through its facilities, ACT also seeks to strengthen cooperation among non-profits within the community.

Three Visionary Women

Judy Kohn Tenenbaum

In celebration of ACT’s Tenth Anniversary in 2020, the building at 405 Main St. in North Little Rock’s Argenta Arts District was officially renamed The Judy Kohn Tenenbaum Argenta Community Theater in honor of ACT Co-Founder and matriarch, Judy Kohn Tenenbaum, affectionately known by actors, crew members, staff and students as “Mama Judy.” The vision and generosity of Judy and her dear friend and co-founder Vincent Insalaco over the theater’s first ten years has fueled the growth of the Argenta Community Theater from a seed of an idea to a strongly cemented cornerstone in the central Arkansas arts community. With education and community outreach as the pillars of ACT’s growth and development, Judy nurtured the growth of this institution that has come to mean so much to so many. Judy passed unexpectedly in June of 2021, and we are grateful that this institution stands as a monument to her commitment to the arts and her community. Judy was a philanthropist to many organizations in Arkansas including the Clinton Foundation, City Year, UAMS Rockefeller Cancer Institute, CARTI, THEA Foundation, St. Vincent’s Infirmary, Temple B’nai Israel, Arkansas Repertory Theater, ACANSA and other organizations. Judy has two children Cori and Gerald and 4 grandchildren.

Sally Riggs Insalaco

The Main Stage in the Argenta Community Theater was named for Sally Riggs Insalaco. Sally Riggs is remembered as a great dancer who performed on Broadway in Hello, Dolly!, Celebration and dozens of shows throughout the country. She also performed in the original London West End Production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Palace Theater. After returning home to Little Rock in 1974, she opened Studio One for the Performing Arts having literally thousands of students from central Arkansas over the nearly 25 years the Studio was opened. Her passion for dance was legendary. After returning home, she helped an old friend (Cliff Baker) with the opening of the Arkansas Repertory Theater by starring in their first musical, Chicago. In 1986, she choreographed and helped stage the Arkansas Sesquicentennial Celebration at War Memorial Stadium along with then REP director Cliff Baker and NLR native Mary Steenburgen. In 2006, she passed away after a long battle with cancer. Sally was married to ACT co-founder Vincent Insalaco for 32 years and had two children Elizabeth and Vincent III. She would have been happy to have known her five granddaughters.

Sharon Heflin

Sharon Heflin, a philanthropist and mother, is extremely involved throughout the community. She has always been passionate about philanthropic work. Heflin is presently serving as an Arkansas Hospice board member; second vice president of Baptist Health and Baptist Health Rehabilitation Institute; board member and vice president of Alzheimer’s Arkansas; Baptist Health Foundation advisory board member; Make-A-Wish Foundation council member; and Runway for a Cause volunteer coordinator. She also sits on many other boards and organizations. In the past, she served as chair of the Little Rock Central High School Alumni Association and was a Sunday school teacher and co-chair of the 2003 Heart Ball. Sharon Heflin has been a patron of the arts in Central Arkansas for more than 50 years. She has served on the boards of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Argenta Community Theater and the THEA Foundation and is a founding board member of the ACANSA arts festival. She received the Patron Award at the 2022 Governor’s Arts Awards presented by the Arkansas Arts Council. Sharon is a founding board member of the Argenta Community Theater and has always supported ACT’s vision of promoting performing arts education. In 2021, the Board voted to name ACT II, the Sharon Heflin Performing Arts Education Center because of her countless acts of both generosity and promoting the performing arts. Sharon has two children Mark and Jay and 4 grandchildren.

History

Founded in 2010 by Vincent Insalaco and Judy Tenenbaum, The Argenta Community Theater has made a name for itself as a destination for local theater at a very high quality. Thousands of audience members have been treated to professional quality performances produced by friends and neighbors from right here in Central Arkansas.

ACT’s inaugural production, Cabaret, was produced in 2012, with direction by Bob Hupp, then the producing artistic director of the Arkansas Repertory Theater. ACT has gone on to produce well received and critically acclaimed musicals and plays, including the world premier stage adaptation of the academy award winning film Mrs. Miniver in 2015, the original musical During Wind and Rain in 2017 and a yearly production of an original adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Argenta has made a name for itself as a destination for outstanding theater, but that is just one facet of our varied mission.

ACT also conducts a robust education outreach program, with our ACTing Up summer camp being the flagship. Beginning in 2014, students from across Central Arkansas have gathered for a two-week summer intensive in acting, music, dance and film at our signature educational program. Over the years our educational program has expanded to include the PACT scholarship program in conjunction with University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College, the Second ACT program for adult theatrical education, and our daytime student Lunch & Learn performances for area students.

The Argenta Community Theater also seeks to collaborate with area non profit organizations, artistic institutions and charitable endeavors to further enrich the community we inhabit and serve. Over the years, we have partnered with organizations like Arkansas Enterprises for the Developmentally Disabled, SeisPuentes, The Arkansas Repertory Theater, Thea Foundation, ACANSA Arts Festival of the South, Opera in the Rock, Laman Library and many, many more. Here at Argenta, we believe that our collaboration with these and many other organizations doing great work in Central Arkansas allows all of us to expand our reach to serve those who need it most.