Audra Honaker

I remain awed by Swift Creek Mill's production of 'Side Show.' the 1997 musical focused on the real-life story of Daisy and Violet Hilton, conjoined twins born in 1908 who were exhibited as circus freaks and then became vaudeville stars.

Swift Creek Mill has had a lot of eras that could be called golden, but for me the period around 2008 was memorable. In particular, I recall loving their production that year of a?oeOnce Upon a Mattress.'

Alfred Hitchcock's classic 1935 film, 'The 39 Steps' is a typical Hitchcockian concoction of action, suspense and surprising twists, topped off with a bit of humor for good measure. Patrick Barlow's amusing adaptation ups the ante on the comedy and adds a bit of absurdity (and dozens of recognizable Hitchcockian references) to this award-winning farce, based on both the film and the 1915 John Buchanan novel. Thanks to a superb cast and crew, Richmond audiences can now experience one of the silliest and most entertaining plays at Virginia Repertory Theatre's Hanover Tavern through March 29.

 Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of the first production of 2020 at the Hanover Tavern: The 39 Steps, opening Friday, February 14. The Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning play mixes a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, and adds a dash of Monty Python, to create a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre. This play is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters (played by a ridiculously talented cast of four), an onstage plane crash, and even some good old-fashioned romance!

Virginia Rep's all-ages show for the holiday season is 'Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella,' a gently updated retelling of the fairytale. Originally written for television in 1957, the musical has had several stage and TV productions, and eventually a rewrite by Douglas Carter Beane (author of last season's 'Sister Act' at Virginia Rep). The retooled version played Broadway for two years, earning several Tony nominations and a Tony win for costume design.

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of Rodgers and Hammmerstein's Cinderella on Friday, November 29, 2019 at the November Theatre/Arenstein Stage, 114 West Broad Street. The show will run through Sunday, January 5, 2020. One Preview performance will be on Wednesday, November 27, 2019.

Company of Fools (COF) will kick off its 24th theatre season with a production of Crimes of the Heart - the 1981 Tony Award nominee for best play and Pulitzer Prize-winner for Drama. Written by celebrated playwright Beth Henley and directed by Scott Palmer, the production will run June 26-July 13 at the Liberty Theatre in Hailey.

Audra Honaker, the dynamic ray of sunshine that has graced stages all over Central Virginia, will entertain audiences through song July 19 & 20 at the Mill. Musical direction by the exceptional Shellie Johnson. Doors open at 7 PM with performance at 8 PM.

Virginia Rep opens Ken Ludwig's holiday whodunit The Game's Afoot: Holmes for the Holidays on Friday, November 30 at the Hanover Tavern, the first show of the 2018-19 Hanover Season. This "murderously funny" farce follows Broadway star William Gillette, admired worldwide for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, as he must reprise his role in order to solve the mystery of his own attempted murder during holiday festivities with his castmates. The show runs through January 6, 2019 at the Hanover Tavern, 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road, Hanover, Virginia 23069.

Plays Through April 14th

Tim Crouch's play AN OAK TREE is a unique performance experience that revolves around a traveling hypnotist who discovers that the volunteer he's called up from the audience for his show is the father of a girl he accidentally killed in a car accident. As Crouch explains, for the grieving father 'nothing now is what it is. It's like he's in a play - but he doesn't know the words or the moves.'

Head on over to Hanover Tavern to see one of the smartest, funniest and, surprisingly, most charming plays of the year. Wrapped in twists, MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET features a powerhouse cast-delivering some of their best dramatic and comedic work.

Virginia Rep opens the 2017-18 Hanover Tavern season this winter with Miracle on South Division Street, a heartwarming family comedy by Tom Dudzick. Miracle on South Division Street tells the story of the Nowaks of Buffalo, New York, and the hilarious revelation that shakes their family's beliefs to the core. This heartfelt comedy opens Today, December 1, 2017, at Hanover Tavern, 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road and runs through December 31, 2017.

Virginia Rep opens the 2017-18 Hanover Tavern season this winter with Miracle on South Division Street, a heartwarming family comedy by Tom Dudzick. Miracle on South Division Street tells the story of the Nowaks of Buffalo, New York, and the hilarious revelation that shakes their family's beliefs to the core. This heartfelt comedy opens Friday, December 1, 2017, at Hanover Tavern, 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road and runs through December 31, 2017.

Virginia Repertory Theatre opens Akeelah and the Bee on Friday, September 29 at the Children's Theatre at Willow Lawn to kick off the 2017-18 Children's Season.

Bill W. and Dr. Bob recounts the inspiring, and often humorous, true story of Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith, two men whose friendship ultimately led to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Bill W. and Dr. Bob recounts the inspiring, and often humorous, true story of Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith, two men whose friendship ultimately led to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Bill W. and Dr. Bob recounts the inspiring, and often humorous, true story of Bill Wilson and Dr. Robert Smith, two men whose friendship ultimately led to the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Two one-act plays provide a double feature more hilarious than any presented in Hollywood's heyday. Winner of two Tony Awards and a hit Broadway production. The first act, A Day in Hollywood, is a revue of classic Hollywood songs of the 1930s performed by singing and dancing ushers from Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the iconic Hollywood landmark.