Virginia Rep Announces 2016-2017 Season, Including IN THE HEIGHTS, 1776, and More!

Virginia Repertory Theatre announced the titles for the 2016/17 Season at the Open House at the November Theatre on Saturday, March 12.

Founding Artistic Director, Bruce Miller, enthusiastically spoke about the season, "I am very excited about the coming year and lineup of shows. In past years we have offered 17 productions including our partnership with Cadence. This year we have trimmed that number to 15, yet the season feels more ambitious than ever with four large musicals downtown, two world premieres, an English classic, and a new work by Lisa D'Amour." Virginia Rep will continue to strengthen its partnership with Cadence Theatre Company. That season will be announced the first week in April. The new Artistic Director will be announced in early April.

The Signature Season at the historic November Theatre downtown kicks off with the Tony Award winning musical, 1776, starring Scott Wichmann as John Adams. "I have been waiting all my life for this role. Doing 1776 is like playing for the Red Sox," Wichmann said about fulfilling his lifelong dream. A Christmas Story, The Musical will entertain families during the holidays as part of the Signature and Children's Seasons.

Based on the cult classic movie, this new musical re-imagines young Ralphie's hilarious quest for the perfect Christmas gift. The winter production of Lisa D'Amour's new work, Airline Highway, is a gritty comedy that lovingly celebrates the boisterous and unpolished old New Orleans in a post-Hurricane Katrina world. Richmond writer David L. Robbins' critically acclaimed novel, The End of War, has been adapted for the stage for its World Premiere production as part of the Acts of Faith Festival. Set in embattled Berlin in the final days of WWII, the play examines the fears and atrocities of war from the perspective of a brilliant young cellist, her mother who is harboring one of the city's last Jews, and two Red Army soldiers fighting their way through the hellish Eastern front. The summer musical, In the Heights, by Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the smash hit Hamilton, brings the world of New York City's Washington Heights to life in Miranda's first groundbreaking work. With spirited characters, pulsing choreography, and an award winning Latin-hip-hop-infused score, In the Heights won 4 Tony Awards in 2008 including Best Musical and was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2009.

1776

Book by Peter Stone
Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards
Previews Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29, 2015 September 30 (opening) - October 23, 2016

A Christmas Story, The Musical

Book by Joseph Robinette
Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Preview Wednesday Nov 23
Friday, November 25, 2016 (opening) - Sunday, January 1, 2017

Airline Highway

By Lisa D'Amour
Previews Wednesday, January 25 and Thursday, January 26, 2017 January 27 (opening) - February 12, 2017

The End of War (World Premiere)
By David L. Robbins
Previews on Wednesday, March 8 and Thursday, March 9, 2017 March 10 (opening) - March 26, 2017

In the Heights

Music and Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda
Book by Quiara Alegria Hudes
Previews Wednesday, June 21 and Thursday, June 22, 2017 June 23 (opening) - July 30, 3017

Barksdale Season at Hanover Tavern

Hanover Tavern will kick off the season during the holidays with the World Premiere of Bo Wilson's The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular, the hilarious sequel to Charitable Sisterhood of the Second Trinity Victory Church. The classic, She Stoops to Conquer, will be the Acts of Faith Offering in February. First staged in London in 1773, this ingenious comedy of manners is one of the most frequently produced plays of the English repertoire offering romance, farce, and laughter. The summer production will feature the classic memory play, Da, by Irish playwright Hugh Leonard. Both wrenching and funny, the play tells the story of Charlie as he meets his father's ghost and confronts the complexities of his childhood. The 1978 Broadway production won the Tony Award for Best Play.

The Charitable Sisterhood Christmas Spectacular (World Premiere) By Bo Wilson
December 2, 2016 - January 1, 2017

She Stoops to Conquer

By Oliver Goldsmith
February 24 - March 26, 2017

Da

By Hugh Leonard
July 14 - August 20, 2017

Virginia Rep's Children's Theatre at Willow Lawn

Virginia Rep's Children's Theatre will stage three shows at Willow Lawn and two larger musicals downtown at the November Theatre. Based on four beloved books by Barbara Parker, Junie B. Jones, The Musical, will open the season in October. Buffalo Soldier, the story about Richmond native Jones Morgan, the oldest living Buffalo Solider, will be a part of the Acts of Faith festival and celebrate Black History Month. Last staged ten years ago by Virginia Rep, Disney's Beauty and the Beast will be the largest production on the Children's season with a lavish set, rich costumes, and memorable score. The Little Engine that Could will feature creative puppets and compliment Virginia Rep's programming for young, emerging readers. All children's productions will offer select sensory friendly performances for autistic audiences.

Junie B. Jones, The Musical

Book and Lyrics by Marcy Heisler,
Music by Zina Goldrich
Based on the Books by Barbara Park Student matinees Thursday October 6, 2016 October 7 (opening) - November 20, 2016

A Christmas Story, The Musical at the November Theatre Downtown Book by Joseph Robinette
Music and Lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Preview Wednesday Nov 23

Friday, November 25, 2016 (opening) - Sunday, January 1, 2017

Buffalo Soldier

Book, Music, Lyrics by Bruce Craig Miller
February 3 (opening) - February 27, 2017
Student Matinees will also run at Hanover Tavern and November Theatre prior

Disney's Beauty and the Beast at the November Theatre Downtown Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Book by Linda Woolverton

April 21 - May 14, 2017

The Little Engine that Could

Based on the 1906 sermon by Reverend Charles S. Wing July 7 - July 30, 2017

For full pricing and package information, visit www.virginiarep.org or call 282-2620

Virginia Repertory Theatre, located in Richmond, VA, presents national caliber productions of the great dramas, comedies, and musicals including classics, contemporary works, and world premieres, always seeking to demonstrate the unique power of theatre to engage, enthrall, educate, and inspire. Productions are staged at four distinct venues: the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre and Theatre Gym at the Virginia Rep Center downtown, Virginia Rep's Children's Theatre located at Willow Lawn, and Virginia Rep's Barksdale Season at Hanover Tavern.

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