MAME, Starring Emily Skinner, SOUTH PACIFIC and More Make Up Virginia Rep's 2014-15 Season

Virginia Repertory Theatre revealed the new titles for the 2014/15 Season with a public announcement at the November Theatre last evening. The announcement marks Bruce Miller and Phil Whiteway's 40th season as Artistic Director and Managing Director. Miller reflects on this milestone, "I'm proud to be announcing my 40th season as Artistic Director. The 18 shows that comprise Virginia Rep's 2014/15 roster include several of my favorite comedies, dramas and musicals. Whether a renowned classic or an exciting new release, each selection will take us on a breathtaking journey. I can't wait to discover with our audience the adventures that lie ahead."

The Signature Season at the historic November Theatre downtown kicks off with Equivocation by Bill Cain, a co-production with Henley Street Theatre and Richmond Shakespeare. In this high-stakes political thriller set in 1606, Shakespeare and a variety of historical figures clash about the complexities of the truth and the terrible consequences of compromise surrounding the Gunpowder Plot.

Virginia Rep is delighted to announce Broadway's Emily Skinner in the title role in the toe-tapping musical comedy, Mame. Skinner began her professional career in Richmond, Virginia at the age of eight and worked at many of Richmond's well-known theaters including Theatre IV (now Virginia Rep) before her Tony-nominated star turn in the Broadway musical, Side Show. Most recently, she starred as Mrs. Wilkinson in the Chicago and Broadway companies of the acclaimed musical, Billy Elliott. Skinner will be joined on-stage by Richmond favorite, Desiree Roots-Centeio in the role of Vera Charles.

The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez is one of the most widely staged plays at regional theaters across the country and will serve as the offering for the Acts of Faith Theatre Festival. Lopez's work is set in a ruined Jewish home in Richmond, Virginia in 1865. Just days after the end of the Civil War, this provocative script provides a unique opportunity to discuss the impact of slavery and war from a religious and local historical perspective.

Virginia Rep is thrilled to be one of the first regional theatres to receive the rights to Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, a recent Broadway hit by Christopher Durang. This hilarious comedy reflects age-old sibling rivalry and the debate over the devolution of culture.

The summer musical, South Pacific, will feature Stacey Cabaj in the leading role as Nellie. Bruce Miller considers this Rodgers and Hammerstein ten-time Tony Award- winning classic to be one of the most important American musicals. "It is the perfect summer family musical and one that has not been produced in the Richmond area in years. We are delighted to bring Stacey Cabaj back to the Richmond stage."

Hanover Tavern will kick off the season with the new play, Becoming Dr. Ruth, a one-woman show that tells the incredible life story of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, the pioneering radio and television sex therapist. This inspiring, biographical work chronicles her life journey from fleeing the Nazis in the Kindertransport and joining the Haganah in Jerusalem as a sniper, to her struggles as a single mother and American immigrant.

The romantic musical comedy, They're Playing Our Song, by Marvin Hamlisch, Neil Simon and Carole Bayer Sager will provide many laughs during the holiday season. You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown will provide a family offering and celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Peanuts comic strip. Neil Simon's The Last of the Red Hot Lovers will feature Scott Wichmann in his first role upon his return from a yearlong military deployment in Africa.

The Children's Theatre of Virginia will feature favorite childhood classics including Charlotte's Web, Treasure Island, and Goodnight Moon as well as the historical play, The Maggie Walker Story, and the foot-stomping holiday musical, Santa's Christmas Miracle. The Children's Theatre continues its commitment to children's literacy and the arts through collaborations with The Shops at Willow Lawn, student matinees, workshops with theatre artists and touring shows at Richmond area public and private schools, and the Richmond Public Libraries.

Virginia Rep will continue to strengthen their partnership with Cadence Theatre Company. The upcoming season of contemporary, award winning theatre will feature three diverse works: Sight Unseen by Donald Marguiles, the Tony-nominated musical, Caroline, or Change, by Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori, and the Drama Desk and New York Drama Critics Circle Award-winning play, A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard.

Virginia Rep provides valet parking for $8 for all Signature Season productions except the previews and free self parking at all productions. Visit the website for details.

Subscriptions and packages will be available by April 1. Single ticket sales will go on sale July 1.

For pricing and package information, visit www.va-rep.org or call 282-2620.

The full Virginia Repertory Season 2014/2015 is as follows:

Signature Season
Marjorie Arenstein Stage at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre
114 West Broad Street
Valet Parking and Free Self Parking Available

Equivocation by Bill Cain
A Coproduction with Henley Street Theatre and Richmond Shakespeare
Directed by Jan Powell
September 26 - October 19, 2014

Mame
Book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee
Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman
Based on the novel Auntie Mame by Patrick Dennis
Directed by Patti D'Beck
Starring Broadway's Emily Skinner and Richmond Favorite Desiree Roots-Centeio
November 21, 2014 - January 11, 2015

The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez
February 13 - March 8, 2015

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang
Directed by Bruce Miller
April 24 - May 17, 2015

South Pacific
Book by Oscar Hammerstein and Joshua Logan
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Based on the book Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener
Directed by Chase Kniffen
Starring Stacey Cabaj

Barksdale Season at Hanover Tavern

Becoming Dr. Ruth by Mark St. Germain
September 12 - October 12

They're Playing Our Song
Book by Neil Simon
Music by Marvin Hamlisch
Lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager
November 7, 2014 - January 4, 2015

You're a Good, Man Charlie Brown
Music and Lyrics by Clark Gesner
Based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz
February 27 - April 19, 2015

Last of the Red Hot Lovers by Neil Simon
Starring Scott Wichmann
July 17 - August 23, 2015

Children's Theatre of Virginia Season at Willow Lawn

Charlotte's Web
Adapted by Joseph Robinette
Based on the book by E.B. White
October 10 - November 9, 2014

Santa's Christmas Miracle
Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard Geirsch
November 28 - December 28, 2014

The Maggie Walker Story by Bruce Craig Miller
January 30 - February 15, 2015

Treasure Island
Book, Music and Lyrics by Paul Deiss
Based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson
March 13 - April 19, 2015

Goodnight Moon by Chad Henry
Based on the book by Margaret Wise Brown
July 10 - August 2, 2015

Cadence Theatre Company in partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre
Theatre Gym at Virginia Rep Center

Sight Unseen by Donald Margulies
Directed by Rusty Wilson
October 16-November 8

Caroline, or Change by Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori
Directed by Chase Kniffen
February 19-March 14

A Lie of the Mind by Sam Shepard
Directed by Anna Johnson
April 30-May 23

Virginia Repertory Theatre, located in Richmond, VA, combines the talents and strengths of two nonprofit companies that shared facilities, resources, and management teams for over a decade. Now the heritages of Barksdale Theatre (founded in 1953) and Theatre IV (founded in 1975) live on in their new form, as Central Virginia's leading professional theatre company. Virginia Rep 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 downtown Virginia Rep Center, Virginia Rep's Children's Theatre of Virginia located at Willow Lawn, and Virginia Rep's Barksdale Season at Hanover Tavern.