Carol Lewis News

For the past several years, Virginia Repertory Theatre has produced one world premiere of a new play or musical. Last year's award-winning THE END OF WAR by David L. Robbins was theatre at its very finest, with incredible special effects, set design and a gorgeous book by Robbins. While River Ditty's story could benefit from some tightening, some exceptional performances make this an enjoyable production. Richmond audiences should jump at the opportunity to see yet another fresh new play.

As a part of its New Play Development initiative, Virginia Repertory Theatre, in partnership with Glass Half Full Productions, will present the world premiere of River Ditty by Matthew Mooney Keuter.  The show opens in the November Theatre on Friday, April 20th, 2018, and runs through Sunday, May 6th, with two preview performances on Wednesday, April 18th and Thursday, April 19th. Virginia Rep's November Theatre/Arenstein Stage is located at 114 West Broad Street, Richmond VA 23220.

Virginia Rep presents Lorraine Hansberry's classic, A RAISIN IN THE SUN! Set in the south side of Chicago in 1950s, A RAISIN IN THE SUN begins when the Younger family receives ten thousand dollars following the death of the family patriarch. Though everyone in the family wants to use the money in order to better themselves, tensions brew when it becomes unclear how best to make that happen. A RAISIN IN THE SUN opened February 16th, and will run through March 11th.

"The play that changed American theatre forever" (New York Times) comes to Virginia Rep's November Theatre (114 West Broad Street) this February. Lorraine Hansberry's seminal masterpiece opens Friday, February 16th, 2018 , and runs through March 11th , with two preview performances on Wednesday, February 14th and Thursday, February 15th.

Teeming with emotionally-charged and nuanced performances, and led by Tony-award winning actress Trezana Beverley, Virginia Rep's RAISIN is a tour de force not to be missed. Audiences can see the Broadway-caliber masterwork through March 11 at Virginia Rep's November Theatre.

The play that changed American theatre forever (New York Times) comes to Virginia Rep's November Theatre (114 West Broad Street) this February. Lorraine Hansberry's seminal masterpiece opens Friday, February 16th, 2018, and runs through March 11th, with two preview performances on Wednesday, February 14th and Thursday, February 15th.

True to their slogan 'Theatre Beyond Boundaries,' director Lucian Restivo and the personnel at 5th Wall have executed (pun intended) a distinctly immersive theatrical gambit with pulverizing marks. By staging Murder Ballad entirely within the confines of the main room at Club Infuzion in Scott's Addition (as per the original Off-Broadway production's cue to venue selection), the audience is treated to a 360 degree display of four spellbinding actors belting out booming rock tunes whilst weaving around and about the respective patrons' tables and sitting areas.

In the hills of West Virginia 2014, a spill of Methylcyclohexanemethanol (a coal washing agent) compromised the water of 300,000 residents. The coldest day of the winter reaped the 'largest chemical spill in American history' which was conveniently swept under the rug, the physical affects still plague the residents. RUSTBELT:2014 is inspired by these events, creating a fictitious world riddled with satire and mixed with multi-media. In RUSTBELT: 2014 a toxic spill is a stark backdrop to a love story set in 'Chemical Valley', an unexpected humanity arises from the page. Twenty years from where we last left the characters, an underground dance movement continues to drive the action of this twisted fantasia. The EPA (Sara Heifetz) makes a decisive return to the small town where our environmental heroine, Sheila Withers (Matthew Shofner) is heading the local branch of HUD (Housing and Urban Development). A pig farmer is to blame for the disappearance of Rookie, which has shaken his lover Donnie (Vinnie Gonzalez) to the core, Rookie's sister (Katrinah Carol Lewis) seeks justice for her lost brother, fighting her own physical and emotional manifestations from the water contamination.

Artistic Director Carol Piersol and 5th Wall Theatre are thrilled to announce their production of the intense Off-Broadway musical Murder Ballad, an edgy show that follows the exploits of protagonist Sara as she navigates the complications of a love triangle gone wrong and a past that won't leave her alone. Directed by renown local director Lucian Restivo, this show features a talented cast of Richmond performers including Katrinah Carol Lewis, Durron Tyre, Chris Hester, and Rachel Rose Gilmour, with music direction by Kim Fox. This musical, with music and lyrics by Juliana Nash and book and lyrics by Julia Jordan, was originally performed Off-Broadway at a bar venue in New York City, allowing audience members to immerse themselves in the action of the play. 5th Wall will create this same atmosphere of immersion by performing the show at local Richmond venue Club Infuzion in Scott's Addition, who is also a sponsor for this production.

Centenary Stage Company's 2017 - 18 season is in full swing and continues on Sunday, September 24 at 2pm with Boston's Ensemble Chaconne as they perform Measure for Measure: The Music of Shakespeare's Plays in the Lackland Performing Arts Center.

 TheatreLAB, Richmond's home for unexpected and evocative performance, is proud to present Anna Deavere Smith's stunning work of "documentary theatre," TWILIGHT: Los Angeles, 1992 as part of The Cellar Series: When The Other Becomes The Self. Directed by Addie Barnhart and starring TheatreLAB Associate Artistic Director, Katrinah Carol Lewis (2016 Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Award Winner, Best Actress in a Musical). The show will run March 24 thru April 1 at TheatreLAB's venue, The Basement (300 East Broad Street). TWILIGHT: Los Angeles, 1992 is being performed 25 years after the Rodney King Riots.

TheatreLAB, Richmond's home for unexpected and evocative performance, will present Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner's theatrical adaptation of the personal journals and emails of Rachel Corrie, My Name is Rachel Corrie for The Cellar Series: When The Other Becomes The Self.

TheatreLAB, Richmond's home for unexpected and evocative performance, will present Alan Rickman and Katharine Viner's theatrical adaptation of the personal journals and emails of Rachel Corrie, My Name is Rachel Corrie for The Cellar Series: When The Other Becomes The Self.

The Boston Camerata's Christmas concerts are by now a Boston-area and national tradition.

The Boston Camerata's Christmas concerts are by now a Boston-area and national tradition.

?TheatreLAB, Richmond's home for unexpected and evocative performance, is thrilled to announce their new Associate Artistic Director, Katrinah Carol Lewis!

TheatreLAB, Richmond's home for unexpected and evocative performance, is proud to host a one night only staged reading of Wendy Wassersteins' The Heidi Chronicles, as a farewell to Associate Artistic Director,McLean Jesse (Best Actress - 2016 Style Weekly Readers Poll, Best Actress - 2015 Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Award). Directed by James Ricks, the reading and accompanying art auction will take place on July 24th at TheatreLAB's venue, The Basement.

Virginia Repertory Theatre's DREAMGIRLS opened June 24 at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street. The production runs through August 7, 2016. With music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book byTom Eyen, this megawatt Broadway crowd-pleaser electrifies the stage with Motown dreams and powerhouse voices. Loosely based on Diana Ross and the Supremes, the story follows the turbo-charged rise to fame of the Dreams. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

?TheatreLAB, Richmond's home for unexpected and evocative performance, is proud to host a one night only staged reading of Wendy Wassersteins' The Heidi Chronicles, as a farewell to Associate Artistic Director, McLean Jesse (Best Actress - 2016 Style Weekly Readers Poll, Best Actress - 2015 Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Award). Directed by James Ricks, the reading and accompanying art auction will take place on July 24th at TheatreLAB's venue, The Basement.

TheatreLAB, Richmond's home for unexpected and evocative performance, is proud to present Lanie Robertson's LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL, starring local theatre favorite Katrinah Carol Lewis as Billie Holiday. The production is the first show of TheatreLAB's 2015-16 season, 'A Vivid Impression of Reality,' and will run tonight, November 12th to December 12th at TheatreLAB's venue, The Basement (300 East Broad Street). Scroll down for a sneak peek!