Save Virginia Rep! Urgent Call to Support Central Virginia’s Largest Theater

Virginia Repertory Theatre, Central Virginia’s largest professional theater company, is in the midst of a financial crisis that threatens to close its doors. A newly appointed leadership team discovered a significant financial shortfall, uncovering a legacy deficit of $1.7 million, along with a projected $1.6 million shortfall for the coming year. This financial strain, compounded by the loss of key donors, has resulted in a $500,000 funding gap.

Virginia Rep has announced that it requires an immediate infusion of $600,000 to avoid closure. Without this funding, the current production of Stephen King’s Misery could be the theater’s final show. The company’s artistic director, Rick Hammerly, noted that it wasn’t until new managing director Klaus Schuller joined six weeks ago that the full extent of the debt became clear. Hammerly emphasized the importance of transparency, expressing that the leadership would rather be open about the situation than regret not asking for help sooner.

The potential closure would have a profound impact on Richmond’s theater community. Virginia Rep stages around a dozen shows annually at three locations, including children’s productions that tour Virginia and beyond. The theater also employs dozens of local professionals, whose jobs would be at risk.

Additionally, the company’s main location, the November Theatre on West Broad Street, serves as the venue for the Richmond Theatre Community Circle Awards, which recognize local theater excellence.

Virginia Rep was founded in 2012 through the merger of Barksdale Theatre and Theatre IV, two key organizations in Richmond’s theater history. In recent years, the theater has undergone several leadership changes, culminating in the August appointment of Schuller as managing director and Hammerly as the sole artistic director.

Like many theaters across the country, Virginia Rep has struggled to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic challenges and shifting audience habits have hurt theaters nationwide, and Virginia Rep has seen a significant drop in attendance compared to pre-pandemic levels.

If the theater is forced to close, the consequences would extend beyond just the staff, who could face serious financial hardships. The broader Richmond community would lose a cultural institution that has long been a cornerstone of the local arts scene.

In response, Virginia Rep has launched a fundraising effort under the banner “Save the Rep,” with the hope that donations from the community will help the theater survive. The company’s future now depends on the generosity of supporters and the Richmond arts community.

Consider donating to help #SaveTheRep at savetherep.org