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Taking the RVA Stage Richmond, Virginia's theater scene is, in typical Richmond fashion, loyal and rich in history. It also has “the strongest, most vibrant theatre scene of any mid-size metro area in the nation, with seven professionally oriented nonprofit companies currently competing for audiences, funding and media coverage,” says Bruce Miller, artistic director of Virginia Repertory Theatre. 
Monumental Church, once Richmond Theatre “If there’s a trend underway, it’s consolidation,” Miller continues, explaining that only a couple of years ago, there were ten competing companies. However, Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV merged to form Virginia Rep in 2012, while Henley Street Theatre and Richmond Shakespeare announced their planned merger earlier this year. Sycamore Rouge, meanwhile, closed last summer after battling financial hardship. Miller adds, “Hopefully, more consolidation will occur soon. Considering the limits of our community’s resources, a strong case can be made that fewer appropriately funded companies would yield higher returns than seven companies, all of which are undercapitalized.” One of the city’s most notable theaters no longer exists, but remains a vital part of the capital’s long and varied story of performance art. Once upon a time, that stage was Richmond Theatre, a “barn-like building,” which fell to a fatal fire during its final performance in 1811. At the time, casual theatre-goers and esteemed critics alike considered Richmond Theatre one of the finest stages in the country. Today Monumental Church, surrounded by the Medical College of Virginia campus on Broad Street, serves as a mausoleum for all who lost their lives to flame. Yet as interesting as this tale may be, you’re probably more curious about the stage fare you can enjoy today. It does, after all, range from “burlesque to Broadway,” in the words of Cindy Creasy, who runs BroadwayInRichmond.com. “The theatre scene here is a gem, something many Richmonders take for granted, but we're so lucky with all of the performing arts happening here.” Want to relish Richmond's theatre scene? Here are some of the plays hitting Richmond this winter (don't worry—we've spared you from all the Christmas pageants): MUSICAL The Drowsy Chaperone Through December 21 Swift Creek Mill Theatre A die-hard musical theatre fan is playing his favorite cast album, The Drowsy Chaperone, on his turntable. As he listens, the musical literally bursts to life in his apartment, telling the story of a vivacious Broadway starlet trying to find her true love. Hairspray Through November 20 TheatreVCU The winner of eight Tony Awards, Hairspray centers on Tracy Turnblad's adventures with integration in 1962 Baltimore after she makes it on a local television dance show. All aspects of the production are produced by students in the VCU Theatre program, part of VCU's top-ranked School of the Arts. Fiddler on the Roof Through January 12 The Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre Tevye, a poor milkman, must weigh his family’s happiness against the traditions that have preserved a way of life in his village. His eldest daughters want to marry for love rather than a auspicious match, and outside forces threaten everything he holds dear, but family and faith help see him through in a changing world. The Wild Party November 21-December 28 Firehouse Theatre Project This 2000 Drama Desk and Obie Award winner follows the tale of one crazy night spent by two vaudeville lovers in their Manhattan apartment. Queenie is a vaudeville dancer and Burrs is a vaudeville clown. Both are mean-spirited, careless, and the kind of party animals that would put frat boys to shame. This is the evening they promise to make each other jealous—and that's when violent trouble ensues. Jersey Boys January 7-19, 2014 The Landmark Theater This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide–all before they were 30! Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad January 31-February 9 The Children’s Theatre at Willow Lawn This stirring drama with music is a classic tribute to the great American who freed herself and hundreds of her people from the bonds of slavery. As Harriet and her friend Sarah Bradford narrate her adventurous life, we share in the joys, sorrows and challenges faced by this brave women who changed the world through her courage. The Addams Family February 7-8 The Landmark Theater A smash-hit musical comedy that brings the darkly delirious world of Gomez, Morticia, Uncle Fester, Grandma, Wednesday, Pugsley, and of course, Lurch to spooky and spectacular life. PLAYS The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui November 21-24 Modlin Center for the Arts This satirical allegory of Hilter in Nazi Germany chronicles Arutuo Ui's rise to power in Great Depression era Chicago. This made-up 1930s mobster has one goal: to corner the cauliflower market—though he doesn't intend to get big laughs while doing it. The Miracle Worker January 16-February 15 Swift Creek Mill Theatre The classic true story of young Helen Keller and her steadfast teacher Annie Sullivan is brought vividly to life on the stage in this prize-winning drama. The entire family will enjoy being uplifted by the tenacious human spirit. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest February 13-19 TheatreVCU Between prison time or a short sentence in a mental hospital, Randle Patrick McMurphy chooses the mental hospital. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a story of anti-establishment, with McMurphy rising up against the cold Nurse Ratched. In this adaptation of Ken Kesey's 1960's novel, VCU Theatre undergrad and graduate students are responsible for all aspects of this professional-level production. Production Studies III Showcase February 13-16 Modlin Center for the Arts University of Richmond students present a production of their choice—fully produced, directed, and designed by their class—as a culmination of two years of intense theatre study and preparation. The only guideline is that the students must choose a provocative, contemporary, full-length play. Tartuffe February 13-March 9 The Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre Tartuffe, a religious hypocrite, uses his connections to swindle his generous host, Orgon, out of this wealth, his home and his wife. Despite his cunning, he hasn’t fooled everyone, and the family and servants rally together to reveal his slippery nature before it’s too late. First performed in 1664, this year marks the 350th anniversary of the masterpiece. MORE COMING IN 2014: The Mormon Boy Trilogy—January 16-February 1, 2014 Death and the Maiden—February 6-March 1, 2014 The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity—February 6-March 8, 2014 Clybourne Park—February 20-March 15 Life Could Be a Dream--March 6-April 19, 2014 Shrek the Musical—March 14-April 27, 2014 Bonny Bunny's Treasure Hunt—March 24-April 18, 2014 The Rat Pack is Back—March 28-29, 2014 Wittenberg—March 28-April 19 Threshold—April 17-20 Wicked—April 23-May 4, 2014 Other Desert Cities—April 24-May 18 Beyond the Rainbow: Garland at Carnegie Hall—May 8-June 7 The Color Purple—June 19-August 3 Go, Dog. Go!—July 11-August 3, 2014 The Dixie Swim Club—June 26-Aug 2 CommentsComments are closed.
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