Virginia Stage Company

Virginia Stage Company (VSC) is a professional theater company located in Hampton Roads, Virginia. VSC presents locally produced plays for over 70,000 patrons a year both at the Wells Theatre in Norfolk, Virginia and throughout the community. A nonprofit theater, VSC has developed their "American Soil Series," a program that commissions plays of special regional interest, usually receiving their world premieres.

History

The first Board of Trustees began the organization in 1968. At the time, it was called the "Norfolk Theatre Center", and the first performances were presented in a 120-seat space in the former public library building on Freemason Street. The Theatre Center later moved to a makeshift space under Chrysler Hall and became known as the Stage Downunder at Scope.

In the late 1970s, the Board of Trustees decided to develop a fully professional theatre. Adopting the name Virginia Stage Company, they hired the first professional staff in 1978 and began detailed planning with help from the National Foundation for the Expansion and Development of American Theatre. A search began for a space where a professional theatre could produce and perform a season from October to May. After looking at 49 spaces, they chose the Wells Theatre.

A public-private partnership at the Wells Theater began. The VSC Board obtained an option to purchase the remaining years on the lease. In October 1979, with $315,000 from the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority and $180,000 contributed and raised by the founding Board of Trustees, the lease was purchased, and VSC took possession of the Wells. Less than four months later, after a prodigious initial renovation, Virginia Stage Company opened their premiere season on February 7, 1980.

In September 2016, VSC has named Tom Quaintance its new producing artistic director, moving the theatre to a single leader model with Quaintance overseeing both financial and artistic operations. He succeeded former VSC leaders artistic director Chris Hanna and managing director Keith Stava. Previously, Quaintance served as artistic director of Cape Fear Regional Theatre in Fayetteville, North Carolina for 5 years.

Main stage productions

Virginia Stage Company's seasons run from September to April and include six productions, five main season plays and one season extra. The company's repertoire includes Broadway hits such as ''The Wiz'', ''Venus in Fur'', ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' and ''Peter and the Starcatcher'', locally written and produced plays such as ''I Sing the Rising Sea'' and ''The Hampton Years'', and classics such as '' The Tempest'' and ''Oliver Twist''.

World premieres

2016 - ''Oliver Twist'' by Charles Dickens, Adapted by Patrick Mullins, with Music by Jake Hull

2016 - ''I Sing the Rising Sea'', Book, Music, and Lyrics by Eric Schorr

2013 - ''Frog Kiss'', Book & Lyrics by Charles Leipart, Music By Eric Schorr, Based on the novella ''The Frog Prince – A Fairy Tale for Consenting Adults'' by Stephen Mitchell

2013 - ''Swingtime Salute'' (on the deck of the Battleship Wisconsin), Book by Patrick Mullins, Music & Lyrics by various

2012 - ''The Comfort Team'' by Deborah Brevoort

2011 - '' SCKBSTD'', A New Musical by Bruce Hornsby, Music & Lyrics by Bruce Hornsby, Lyrics by Chip deMatteo, Book b
Clay McLeod Chapman
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2010 - ''The New Pink'' by Chris Hanna

2009 - ''Alive and Well'' by Kenny Finkle

2009 - ''Line in the Sand'' by Chris Hanna

2007 - ''King Lear – The Storm At Home'' by Chris Hanna, based on William Shakespeare’s King Lear

2006 - ''A Christmas Carol'' by Charles Dickens, Adapted by VSC

2005 - ''The Taste Test'' by Frank Higgins

1998 - ''Nobody Lonesome for Me'' by Lanie Robertson

1996 - ''Snapshots'' by Michael Scheman and David Stern, Music by Stephen Schwartz

1996 - ''A Christmas Carol'' by Charles Dickens, Adapted by David McCann

1989 - ''The Secret Garden'' by Frances Hodgson Burnett, Adapted by Marsha Norman, Lyrics by Lucy Simon

1988 - ''Fossey'' by Lois Meredith

1988 - ''Play Yourself'' by Harry Kondoleon

1987 - ''Haut Gout'' by Allen Havis

1986 - ''Wetter than Water'' by Deborah Pryor

1985 - ''Morocco'' by Alan Havis

1983 - ''Island'' by Peter Link, Brent Nicholson, Joe Bravco and Larry Rosler

1983 - ''High Rolling'' by Robert Litz

1983 - ''Tiovivo'' by Mary G. St. Cloud

1983 - ''The Hazard County Wonder'' by Bruce Payton

1982 - ''Therese Raquin'' by Stephen William

1982 - ''Leavings'' by Michael Richey

1982 - ''Whatever Become of Love?'' By Ed Meyerson

1981 - ''Hot Grog'' by Jim Wann & Bland Simpson

Education and community engagement programs

Virginia Stage Company connects the Hampton Roads community through educational and community engagement initiatives. As a key component of VSC’s mission, the education and community programming strives to reflect the needs of the communities they serve and to advocate for arts integration.

Student matinees

Virginia Stage Company chooses productions that coordinate with school curricula. Students are provided significantly discounted tickets to attend student matinees. Standards of Learning based study guides are researched and created by the education team and provided to each teacher prior to attending the show. The directors, designers, and actors participate in a talk-back session with the students directly following each performance, giving students an opportunity to interact with the company.

In-School tours

VSC’s touring productions last under forty-five minutes with a Q & A wrap-up to fit classroom schedule and include an online activity guide.

Workshops

VSC hosts workshops in stage combat, theatrical special effects, acting techniques, and script writing. In addition, they also offer master classes, during which local and national theater professionals work both one-on-one and in group settings with students.

Summer Theatre Camp

Working with professional theater artists, campers participate in two weeks of theatrical. Each day includes classes in acting, improvisation, storytelling techniques, creative writing, rehearsals, and special outings. At the end of camp, students showcase an original production for family and friends.

References

External links

Virginia Stage Company

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Theatre companies in Virginia
Organizations based in Norfolk, Virginia
Non-profit organizations based in Virginia
Culture of Norfolk, Virginia
Downtown Norfolk, Virginia
Companies based in Norfolk, Virginia
Arts organizations established in 1968
1968 establishments in Virginia