Barksdale Theatre


Barksdale Theatre merged with Theatre IV in 2012 to become Virginia Repertory Theatre.
Barksdale Theatre in Richmond, Virginia, United States, is Central Virginia’s first nonprofit professional performing arts organization, founded in 1953 at the historic Hanover Tavern by Tom Carlin, Stewart Falconer, David 'Pete' Kilgore, Priscilla Kilgore, Muriel McAuley and Pat Sharp. Before the merger, Barksdale presented season at two home locations: Barksdale Theatre at Hanover Tavern and Barksdale Theatre at The Shops at Willow Lawn.
Barksdale is recognized as Central Virginia's leading professional theatre. It continues on as Virginia Repertory Theatre's Barksdale Season at Hanover Tavern under the leadership of Artistic Director Nathaniel Shaw and Managing Director Phil Whiteway.

History

On August 1, 1953, six actors, two children, a dog and two pigs moved into a historic ruin called Hanover Tavern. The transplanted New Yorkers founded Central Virginia’s first professional theatre, and named the company in memory of a deceased college friend, Barbara Barksdale. When they learned that their new neighbors looked forward to eating on evenings out, they combined favorite recipes and created the nation’s first dinner theater. They lived upstairs, performed downstairs, and served hearty meals in the historic rooms that fell in between.
During the first six years, four of the original founders moved on, leaving Pete Kilgore, Muriel McAuley and newcomer Nancy Kilgore firmly in charge. In the seasons that followed, Pete, Muriel and Nancy produced Greater Richmond’s first professional productions of plays by Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Eugene O’Neill, George Bernard Shaw, Noël Coward, Thornton Wilder, William Inge and Edward Albee.
They also became dynamic civic leaders. In defiance of Jim Crow laws., Barksdale was Virginia’s first performing arts organization to open its doors to integrated audiences. Barksdale launched Greater Richmond’s first “studio season,” converting an old country store into an experimental theatre. Barksdale conducted Virginia’s first professional theatre classes for children. In 1973, Barksdale produced Virginia’s first professional play based on African American experience, Lorraine Hansberry’s To Be Young, Gifted and Black.
In support of their theatrical mission, Pete, Muriel and Nancy continued the endless task of restoring the Tavern. In 1990, the Tavern was sold to the Hanover Tavern Foundation. In 1993, Pete, Muriel and Nancy retired after 40 years of exemplary service. John Glenn was named Artistic Director. In 1996, to accommodate a full restoration of its beloved home, Barksdale left the Tavern for new facilities at Willow Lawn. In 1997, John Glenn left to pursue other opportunities, and Randy Strawderman was hired to replace him.
In 2001, leadership was transferred to Bruce Miller and Phil Whiteway, Artistic Director and Managing Director, respectively. Under their leadership, the company’s reputation for artistic excellence continued to grow. Subscriptions increased by 700%, and after a ten-year separation, Barksdale returned theatrical programming to Hanover Tavern in January 2006, initiating a four-play Country Playhouse Season designed to complement its five-play Signature Season at Willow Lawn.
Bruce and Phil had also held the positions of Founding Artistic Director and Founding Managing Director at Theatre IV since 1975. After the leadership of Barksdale was transferred to them in 2001, Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV shared a common staff.
In 2012, Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV merged to become Virginia Repertory Theatre.

Past productions

For the full list of Barksdale Theatre productions from 1953 to the most recent post-merger seasons as Virginia Repertory Theatre's Barksdale Season at Hanover Tavern, see

The seasons leading up to the merger of Barksdale and Theatre IV included the following:
2011-2012 Signature Season

Presented at Willow Lawn and the Empire Theatre

Lend Me a Tenor, by Ken Ludwig

My Fair Lady, music by Frederick Loewe, lyrics & book by Alan Jay Lerner - presented at the historic Empire Theatre in celebration of its 100th Anniversary

God of Carnage, by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton

Scorched Earth, by David Robbins, WORLD PREMIERE

Spring Awakening, book & lyrics by Steven Sater, music by Duncan Sheik - presented at the Empire Theatre
2011-2012 Hanover Tavern Season

Becky's New Car, by Steven Dietz

Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas, by Bruce Craig Miller, musical arrangements by H. Drew Perkins, WORLD PREMIERE

Always...Patsy Cline, written and originally directed by Ted Swindley, based on a true story

Relatively Speaking, by Alan Ayckbourn
2010-2011 Signature Season
Shipwrecked!, by Donald Margulies

White Christmas, music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by David Ives and Paul Blake - presented at the Empire Theatre

Legacy of Light, by Karen Zacarias

Circle Mirror Transformation, by Annie Baker

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, music & lyrics by David Yazbek, book by Jeffrey Lane - presented at the Empire Theatre
2009-2010 Signature Season
Boleros for the Disenchanted, by Jose Rivera

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, by Rachel Sheinkin and William Finn

The Grapes of Wrath, by Frank Galati

Is He Dead?, by Mark Twain

The Sound of Music, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse - presented at the Empire Theatre
2008-2009 Signature Season
The Clean House, by Sarah Ruhl

The Wonderful Life, by Steve Murray, conceived by Mark Setlock

Children of a Lesser God, by Mark Medoff

Well, by Lisa Kron

Thoroughly Modern Millie, book by Richard Henry Morris, music by Jeanine Tesori, new lyrics by Dick Scanlan - presented at the Empire Theatre
2007-2008 Signature Season
The Member of the Wedding, by Carson McCullers

Moonlight and Magnolias, by Ron Hutchinson

Doubt, by John Patrick Shanley

The Little Dog Laughed, by Douglas Carter Beane

Guys and Dolls, by Frank Loesser - presented at the Empire Theatre
2006-2007 Signature Season
The Constant Wife, by Somerset Maugham

Mame, book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman

Brooklyn Boy, by Donald Margulies

Intimate Apparel, by Lynn Nottage

Into the Woods, book by James Lapine, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
2005-2006 Signature Season
The Drawer Boy, by Michael Healey

Scapino!, adapted by Frank Dunlop and Jim Dale

The Lark, by Jean Anouilh, adapted by Lillian Hellman

The Syringa Tree, by Pamela Gein

The Full Monty, book by Terrance McNally, music and lyrics by David Yazbek
Since the Hanover Tavern re-opened in 2006, Barksdale has also offered a series of shows presented at the Hanover Tavern, in addition to its Signature Season. These seasons include:
2011 Hanover Season
A Thousand Clowns by Herb Gardner

Boeing, Boing, by Marc Camoletti, translated by Beverley Cross

Becky's New Car, by Steven Dietz

Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas, by Bruce Craig Miller, musical arrangements by H. Drew Perkins
2010 Hanover Season
First Baptist of Ivy Gap by Ron Osborne

Butterflies are Free, by Leonard Gershe

On Golden Pond, by Ernest Thompson

Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming, by Connie Ray, conceived by Alan Bailey, musical arrangements by Mike Craver

Nunsense, book, music and lyrics Dan Goggin
2009 Hanover Season
Mona’s Arrangements, book by Bo Wilson, music by Steve Liebman, lyrics by Steve Liebman and Bo Wilson

I Ought To Be In Pictures, by Neil Simon

Fully Committed, by Becky Mode

Souvenir, by Stephen Temperley

Bus Stop, by William Inge
2008 Hanover Season
Greater Tuna, by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard

Shirley Valentine, by Willy Russell

Driving Miss Daisy, by Alfred Uhry

Sanders Family Christmas, book by Connie Ray, conceived by Alan Bailey, musical Arrangements by John Foley and Gary Fagin
2007 Hanover Season
Smoke on the Mountain, by Connie Ray

The Odd Couple, by Neil Simon

Deathtrap, by Ira Levin

Swingtime Canteen, by Linda Thorsen Bond, William Repicci and Charles Busch
2006 Hanover Season
Barefoot in the Park, by Neil Simon

No Sex Please, We're British, by Anthony Marriott and Alistair Foot

The Mousetrap, by Agatha Christie

Over the River and Through the Woods, by Joe DiPietro