Goodbye to "Becky" & "Kimberly"; Hello "Frog and Toad"

Posted by Bruce Miller
On Friday of this week, we'll open one of our two Broadway for the Holidays musicals, A Year with Frog and Toad, directed by Steve Perigard and choreographed by Leslie Owens Harrington. This is one of those times when we can shout out "Fun for the Whole Family" and really mean it. Please make plans today to treat your children and grandchildren to this joyous classic.

On Saturday evening, we will celebrate the final performance of Kimberly Akimbo, and on Sunday we'll bid a fond farewell to Becky's New Car. We hope you won't let either terrific show pass you by.
All week we'll be putting the final touches on our new lobby paint job at Willow Lawn. Many thanks to the terrific volunteers at Altria for choosing this as one of their community volunteer projects. After 15 years, our Willow Lawn lobby definitely needed a little sprucing up. In all sincerity, Altria, we couldn't have done it without you.

Olives on the Front Porch, our first Bifocals show of the season begins touring this week to senior centers and retirement living facilities throughout Greater Richmond. I'm so proud of the wonderful theatre artists who are pouring their hearts, souls and talents into this exceptional service initiative.

All told, we'll be presenting 68 live performances this week--our busiest week so far this season. Here's some of what's happening at your theatre.

Monday, Oct 31
FIELD Arts Project - 2 classes Chesterfield Co VA
Olives on the Front Porch - 3 pm Beth Sholom
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Westmoreland Co VA
Little Red Hen - 1 show Chesterfield Co VA
Sleepy Hollow - 2 shows Martinsville VA
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Harrisonburg VA

Tuesday, Nov 1
Kimberly Akimbo - 7 pm Theatre Gym
FIELD Arts Project - 1 class Henrico Co VA
Frog Prince - 2 shows Cedar Falls IA
Hugs and Kisses - 1 show Fairfax Co VA, 1 show Prince William Co VA
Sleepy Hollow - 1 show Louisa Co VA, 1 show Hanover Co VA
Snow White - 2 shows York Co VA
Tales as Tall - 1 show Halifax Co VA, 1 show Mecklenburg Co VA

Wednesday, Nov 2
FIELD Arts Project - 2 classes Chesterfield Co VA
Olives on the Front Porch - 1 pm Lifelong Learning
Frog Prince - 2 shows Oelwein IA
Hugs and Kisses - 1 show Prince William Co VA, 1 show Fauquier Co VA
Sleepy Hollow - 2 shows Accomack Co VA
Snow White - 2 shows Halifax Co VA
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Nottoway Co VA

Thursday, Nov 3
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Kimberly Akimbo - 8 pm Theatre Gym
Olives on the Front Porch - 7:30 pm Cedarfield
Hugs and Kisses - 1 show Amherst Co VA, 1 show Bedford Co VA
Little Red Hen - 2 shows Vera Beach FL
Sleepy Hollow - 1 show Hanover Co VA
Snow White - 2 shows Richmond VA
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Chesterfield VA

Friday, Nov 4
A Year with Frog and Toad - 7 pm Willow Lawn (opening)
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Kimberly Akimbo - 8 pm Theatre Gym
FIELD Arts Project - 2 classes Chesterfield Co VA
Olives on the Front Porch - 2:30 pm St. Francis
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Prince William Co VA
Little Red Hen - 1 show Lecanto FL
Sleepy Hollow - 1 show Loudoun Co VA
Snow White - 2 shows Halifax Co VA
Tales as Tall - 1 show Richmond VA, 1 show Chesterfield Co VA

Saturday, Nov 5
A Year with Frog and Toad - 2 pm and 7 pm Willow Lawn
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Kimberly Akimbo - 8 pm Theatre Gym (closing)
Snow White - 1 show Dublin OH

Sunday, Nov 6
A Year with Frog and Toad - 2 pm Willow Lawn
Becky's New Car - 2 pm Hanover Tavern (closing)

Hope to see you at the theatre!

--Bruce Miller

Spielberg Dolls Up the Empire for Her 100th Birthday

Posted by Bruce Miller
We're gavotte-ing into rehearsals for My Fair Lady this week, the 100th Anniversary production of the historic Empire Theatre. Our fair (and historic) theatre opened on Christmas Day, 1911! The consensus among those in attendance seemed to be that last night's read through/sing through went incredibly well. Tonight Leslie has her first choreography rehearsal. I'm excited and scared to be underway. The Empire herself must be pretty excited too. Steven Spielberg and his actors will be filming inside our landmark performance hall soon. They've completely transformed the inside of the theatre--removing seats, leveling the floor, constructing a full, beautiful period set on stage. I'm not allowed to say much more than that. But what I can say is that the design team for this film, led in part by Richmond-based art director David Crank (who also works, when we're lucky, as a Barksdale designer), is extraordinarily talented. What a nice pre-centennial birthday tribute for the magnificent Empire. Spielberg is going to make her a star!

What better way to celebrate Halloween than by going to the theatre, where people wear costumes all year long! We have two treats running this weekend: Becky's New Car at the Tavern and Kimberly Akimbo (special Wednesday matinee tomorrow at 2) at Theatre Gym. Call 282-2620 for your tickets today! Also, the restored art deco marquee is going up on the Empire this week, and we're repainting the lobby at Willow Lawn (with help from Altria volunteers!). And, we're presenting 51 live performances. Here's some of what's happening at your theatre.

Monday, Oct 24
Frog Prince - 1 show Flint MI
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Richmond VA
Sleepy Hollow - 1 show Topeka KS
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Henrico Co VA

Tuesday, Oct 25
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Caroline Co VA
Little Red Hen - 1 show Spotsylvania Co VA
Snow White - 1 show Halifax Co VA
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Henrico Co VA

Wednesday, Oct 26
Kimberly Akimbo - 2 pm Theatre Gym
Frog Prince - 2 shows in Albemarle Co VA
Hugs and Kisses - 1 show Norfolk VA, 1 show Isle of Wight Co VA
Little Red Hen - 2 shows Rockbridge Co VA
Sleepy Hollow - 2 shows in Roscommon MI
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Henrico Co VA

Thursday, Oct 27
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Frog Prince - 1 show Dinwiddie Co VA, 1 show Chesterfield Co VA
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Suffolk VA
Little Red Hen - 2 shows Chesterfield Co VA
Sleepy Hollow - 1 show Euclid OH
Snow White - 2 shows Louisa Co VA
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Henrico Co VA

Friday, Oct 28
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
FIELD Arts Project - 2 classes Henrico Co VA
Frog Prince - 2 shows Chesterfield Co VA
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Isle of Wight Co VA
Little Red Hen - 1 show Henrico Co VA, 1 show Richmond VA
Sleepy Hollow - 2 shows Fairfax Co VA
Snow White - 1 show Hanover Co VA, 1 show Richmond VA
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Henrico Co VA

Saturday, Oct 29
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Kimberly Akimbo - 8 pm Theatre Gym
Snow White - 2 shows Phoebus VA

Sunday, Oct 30
Becky's New Car - 2 pm Hanover Tavern

Hope to see you at the theatre!

--Bruce Miller

Yeah, But What Are You Doing for Me This Week?

Posted by Bruce Miller
Considering the theatre work week to be Monday through Sunday, last week ended with a bang, with Central Virginia's talented theatre artists taking home 12 of the 20 Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Awards for their work in Barksdale productions! Our favorite moment in this year's ceremonies was when our production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels tied with Triangle Players' production of [title of show]. You gotta love it when David and Goliath end in a draw...particularly if you're Goliath. Congratulations to all the nominees for their outstanding performances.

This week we begin rehearsals for our World Premiere of Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas, we open our first Bifocals production of the 2011-12 Season, Steven Spielberg and company move into our historic Empire Theatre, and we welcome Henley Street back to Willow Lawn for their annual Bootleg Shakespeare adventure--this year, a free showing of Troilus and Cressida! All told, we're offering 52 performances this week. Here's some of what's happening at your theatre.

Monday, Oct 17
Frog Prince - 2 shows York Co VA
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Cumberland Co VA
Little Red Hen - 1 show Culpeper Co VA

Tuesday, Oct 18
Hugs and Kisses - 1 shows Spotsylvania Co VA
Little Red Hen - 1 show Harrisonburg VA
Sleepy Hollow - 2 shows Belle Glade FL
Snow White - 1 show Halifax Co VA
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Chesterfield Co VA

Wednesday, Oct 19
Frog Prince - 3 shows Aurora IN
Hugs and Kisses - 1 show Richmond VA, 1 show Henrico Co VA
Little Red Hen - 1 shows Fairfax Co VA
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Henrico Co VA

Thursday, Oct 20
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Kimberly Akimbo - 8 pm Theatre Gym
Olives on the Front Porch - 1 pm Willow Lawn lobby
Frog Prince - 3 shows Aurora IN
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Roanoke VA
Little Red Hen - 1 show Hanover Co VA
Sleepy Hollow - 1 show Chesterfield Co VA
Snow White - 2 shows Louisa Co VA
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Spotsylvania Co VA

Friday, Oct 21
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Kimberly Akimbo - 8 pm Theatre Gym
Olives on the Front Porch - 1 pm Willow Lawn lobby
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Prince William Co VA
Little Red Hen - 3 shows Wayne Co NC
Snow White - 1 show Hanover Co VA, 1 show Richmond VA
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Chesterfield Co VA

Saturday, Oct 22
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Kimberly Akimbo - 8 pm Theatre Gym
Bootleg Shakespeare: Troilus and Cressida - 7:30 pm Willow Lawn
Sleepy Hollow - 2 shows Troy OH
Snow White - 2 shows Phoebus VA

Sunday, Oct 23
Becky's New Car - 2 pm Hanover Tavern
Kimberly Akimbo - 7 pm Theatre Gym

Hope to see you at the theatre!

--Bruce Miller

Working Hard to Earn Your Support

Posted by Bruce Miller
Our exciting new partnership with Cadence Theatre kicks off this week in our intimate Theatre Gym space with Kimberly Akimbo, by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay Abaire. This quirky, poignant comedy stars Irene Ziegler, Debra Wagoner, Richard Koch, Jill Bari Steinberg, and Matt Mitchell. As that show opens, it's hard to believe that the first show of our Signature Season is about to close. Lend Me a Tenor has six performances this week (including a Wednesday matinee and evening) before wrapping up its hugely successful six-week run on Sunday. If you haven't joined in the laughter yet, you have this week only to catch the comedy hit of the year. Finally, our first special offering of the year, a movie-themed cabaret entitled As Time Goes By, will be presented this week for the Richmond Convention and Visitors Bureau on Thursday, and the Virginia Rotary Convention on Friday. And of course, on Sunday, the RTCC Awards will return to the Empire Theatre. All told, we're offering 56 performances this week. Here's some of what's happening at your theatre.

Monday, Oct 10
Frog Prince - 1 show York Co VA
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Fairfax Co VA
Little Red Hen - 2 shows Chesterfield Co VA

Tuesday, Oct 11
Coffee & Conversations - 9:30 am Willow Lawn
Frog Prince - 1 show Spotsylvania Co VA
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows
Little Red Hen - 2 shows Prince William Co VA
Snow White - 1 show VA Beach VA
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Spencer Wisconsin

Wednesday, Oct 12
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Lend Me a Tenor - 2 pm and 8 pm Willow Lawn
Frog Prince - 1 show Dinwiddie Co VA, 1 show Prince George Co VA
Hugs and Kisses - 1 show Powhatan Co VA, 1 show New Kent Co VA
Little Red Hen - 2 shows Towson MD
Sleepy Hollow - 2 shows Mamaroneck NY
Snow White - 1 show Lancaster Co VA
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Wautoma Wisconsin

Thursday, Oct 13
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Lend Me a Tenor - 8 pm Willow Lawn
Kimberly Akimbo - 8 pm Theatre Gym
As Time Goes By - 8 pm RCVB
Frog Prince - 1 show Bedford Co VA
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Albemarle Co VA, 1 show Madison Co VA
Little Red Hen - 2 shows Hartford CT

Friday, Oct 14
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Lend Me a Tenor - 8 pm Willow Lawn
Kimberly Akimbo - 8 pm Theatre Gym
As Time Goes By - 8:30 pm VA Rotary Convention
Frog Prince - 1 show Hanover Co VA, 1 show Powhatan Co VA
Hugs and Kisses - 1 show Prince William Co VA
Little Red Hen - 2 shows Hartford CT
Sleepy Hollow - 1 show Henrico Co VA, 1 show Goochland Co VA
Snow White - 1 show Loudoun Co VA

Saturday, Oct 15
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Lend Me a Tenor - 8 pm Willow Lawn
Kimberly Akimbo - 8 pm Theatre Gym
Snow White - 1 show Westhampton Beach NY

Sunday, Oct 16
Becky's New Car - 2 pm Hanover Tavern
Lend Me a Tenor - 2 pm Hanover Tavern
Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Awards - 7 pm Empire Theatre

Hope to see you at the theatre!

--Bruce Miller

Barksdale Theatre / Theatre IV - Next Week's Schedule

Posted by Bruce Miller
Fall is here! This is the week our touring operation begins to run on all cylinders, with in-school performances of The Frog Prince, Hugs and Kisses, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Tales as Tall as the Sky, and The Little Red Hen. More on each of those productions later. We'll be presenting 49 performances next week. Here's some of what's happening at your theatre.

Sunday, Oct 2
Becky's New Car - 2 pm matinee - Hanover Tavern
Lend Me a Tenor - 2 pm matinee - Willow Lawn
Open Call Auditions - 6 pm to 11 pm - Empire

Monday, Oct 3
Sleepy Hollow - 1 show Brunswick Co VA
Snow White - 2 shows Manassas VA
Tales as Tall - 2 shows Henrico Co VA

Tuesday, Oct 4
Sleepy Hollow - 1 show Spotsylvania Co VA
Snow White - 1 show Spotsylvania Co VA
Tales as Tall - 1 show Bedford Co VA, 1 show Lynchburg VA

Wednesday, Oct 5
Becky's New Car - 2 pm matinee - Hanover Tavern
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Richmond VA
Little Red Hen - 2 shows Wilkesboro NC
Sleepy Hollow - 1 show Spotsylvania Co VA
Snow White - 1 show Dinwiddie Co VA

Thursday, Oct 6
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Lend Me a Tenor - 8 pm Willow Lawn
Frog Prince - 2 shows Newport News VA
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Powhatan Co VA
Little Red Hen - 1 show Chesterfield Co VA
Sleepy Hollow - 1 show Baltimore MD
Snow White - 1 show Chesterfield Co VA, 1 show Richmond VA
Tales as Tall - 3 shows Vevay IN

Friday, Oct 7
Becky's New Car - 8 pm Hanover Tavern
Lend Me a Tenor - 8 pm Willow Lawn
Frog Prince - 1 show Chesterfield Co VA, 1 show Hanover Co VA
Hugs and Kisses - 2 shows Prince William Co VA
Little Red Hen - 1 show Chesterfield Co VA
Sleepy Hollow - 2 shows Pittsylvania Co VA
Snow White - 2 shows Bedford Co VA
Tales as Tall - 3 shows Vevay IN

Saturday, Oct 8
Lend Me a Tenor - 8 pm Willow Lawn
Snow White - 1 show McLean VA

Hope to see you at the theatre!

--Bruce Miller