Arkansas Classical Theatre was founded in 2024 by Steven Marzolf and Betsy Jilka to fill a clear gap in Northwest Arkansas: a professional company dedicated to classical and classically inspired work, grounded in the belief that the region held both the audience and the appetite to sustain it. Its founders were equally committed to creating meaningful, paid opportunities for the area’s talented actors, designers, and technicians. Drawing on their deep experience with classical theatre, they set out to build a company that would serve the community through rigorous storytelling, artistic excellence, and a lasting investment in local artists.

Currently, ACT is an itinerant company that stages its productions in some of the fantastic, flexible theater spaces Northwest Arkansas has to offer. Past productions have been presented in the Global Campus Theatre and Fayetteville’s historic Headquarters House, which once housed officers from both the Confederate and Union armies, making it the perfect backdrop for “The Madness of Edgar Allan Poe: A Love Story”.

Yes! It was very important to the founders of the company that all artists, designers, and technicians involved with productions be compensated for their work. As the company grows, so will that compensation—providing a way for NWA artists to make a living using their skills is one of the biggest goals of ACT.

We would love for you to be involved! Check out our “Support” page for creative ways to join the fun. You can also email headshots and resumes to us at ArkansasClassicalTheatre@gmail.com.