The Virginia Stage Company's "A Very Merry Christmas Carol" at the Wells Theatre has become a…read moreholiday tradition for our family and this year did not disappoint. The entire audience seemed excited for the performance, with the Christmas spirit felt throughout the lobby and theater. The staff were friendly, welcoming, and helpful. The available concessions were tasty, though the spiked eggnog was sorely missed this year. One recommendation would be to improve communication regarding drink availability at the bars. If certain beverages are not served at the theater entrance bar (like hot cocoa and coffee), they should not appear on that menu, or guests should be informed before waiting in line. I witnessed dozens of theatergoers being told after a long wait that hot drinks were only available at the side bar by the front windows which created a lot of unnecessary frustration. The Wells Theatre has a wonderful antique nostalgia while remaining well maintained and very clean. We were fortunate to experience the show from a completely different seat location that previous years, on the opposite side of the house, and the updated writing and script changes were enough to keep the production feeling fresh and engaging. We also appreciated the intermission being placed after the First Spirit rather than after the Second, as in previous years, as it made the acts feel more balanced. Additionally, the return of the Third Spirit's in-audience entrance was definitely appreciated.

The VA Stage company continues to delight, surprise and push some boundaries. I love their…read moreadaptations of old classics, the most recent being EMMA. It was a knock-out! Completely fresh, funny and musical. A better production by far than the Broadway version and way more enjoyable. The theater is a 100-year-old gem with upgrades, including great seats and acoustics.

We went to see Hand to God play for a Sunday matinee on opening week. This was our first time…read moreattending the Generic Theater. After doing the ceremonial walk around the entire Chrysler Hall looking for the entrance door. We finally found the red doors on either side of the Chrysler box office that go down into the garage and then followed the signs. We were really impressed with the set design and how quickly the crew changes in between scenes. The stage is small and the audience is seated within few feet of the performance. We will definitely be coming back.

Descending into the labyrinth depths of the dark, dank parking garage to access the theater is an…read moreexperience in itself - but well worth the effort! We saw "Hand to God" for our first Generic Theatre production and were incredibly impressed by the quality production. I am a NYC transplant who loves the experimentation and risk of off broadway shows and this show delivered on all counts from the welcoming greeting at the front of the house to the imaginatively clever and versatile set design and the outstanding acting. The detailed dressing and props and musical accompaniment (Van Halen anyone?) all enhanced this terrific show! It is the acting that impressed the most and, as would be expected, it's Brenden Hoyle's portrayal of Jason/Tyrone (his evil hand puppet) that made this production a must-see. Since this review is about the theater experience itself I won't go into detail, however, the director was able to really evoke feeling and character from each actor in an intense, dark play about grief and religion and sex. This play was funny and had LOTS of laughs - only talented actors and directors can straddle this edge! Every member of the cast and crew was exceptional and definitely deserving of the heartfelt standing ovation they received! We can't wait til the next Generic Theater performance!

First time at this theater located on the campus of Norfolk State University. I was not expecting…read moreit to be so nice and spacious. The performing arts center is located off 460/264 and was built in 1996. Parking is off Park Avenue. There is a guard gate that is manned. On weekends no issue with parking and reserved is available. The exterior of the building is all brick and has an attractive entrance and lobby. Flowers that appear fresh planted are in front. Some debris was spotted around the grounds, however walk up clear. A good size lobby w/ a small concessions area is to the right. Restrooms are Womens to right, Men to left. I found the mens room tidy. The theater is straight back. Access to the balcony is by stairs, or elevator in front of grand staircase. The dressing rooms are ups stairs which can be a limitation depending on timing of numbers. I attended the Star Talent Dance Competition with my daughter. She was not participating and was a spectator as I. She had friends in her company Dance Space that were competing. I found the seats comfortable and the space in between roomy. The stage is large, but not as big as say Sandler Center in VB, or Ropper in Norfolk. No food, or drink is permitted in the auditorium. A great first experience at the L Wilder Performing Arts Center.

Wonderful quality of performers! We went to our first show, Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol, and we…read morereally enjoyed it. In addition, the theatre is housed in a small former neighborhood movie theater with comfortable seats and a raised stage, making the sets and actors visible throughout the auditorium. Don't hesitate to see one of their shows. Parking is on the street and across the street in a church lot and a library lot.

Wonderful little theater. I have been doing community theater in NC and VA over the past 20+ years…read more PCT is one I will always return to. The whole community is so kind. It had truly been a joy to work on productions at this theater and I hope to be there even more in the future.

An interesting and historic venue, but one with a serious safety issue. Do not under any…read morecircumstances sit in the balcony. The seats there are cramped and uncomfortable with no leg room. Evacuating the balcony in a timely manner in the event of an emergency would likely be difficult at best.

Amazing display of Black History and the accomplishments made by African Americans. It highlights…read morethe impact on the state, national and the world. The curator was knowledgeable, resourceful, and enthusiastic.

This performing arts center is very nice the acoustics priceless the staff very friendly parking is…read moreperfect. Quite a gem for the Hampton Roads area.

This performing arts center is very nice the acoustics priceless the staff extremely friendly.read more

This Virginia Beach based Musical Theater company, founded by Jeff Meredith, has a dynamic Managing…read moreDirector & Artistic Director. Their productions are cast with a mix of New York City based Equity talent, locals & students from the Virginia Governors School for the Arts. The performing home of VMT is the Sander Center for the Arts, conveniently located at Town Center. The venue is in walking distance to numerous restaurants where you can have before or after show dinner. Perhaps their best production I've seen in my many years of attending this theater was the recently performed Jekyll & Hyde. The casting was superb. The performance was flawless. Lighting, costumes and set design were a plus. Having seen this show on Broadway a number of years ago, I was hoping for marvelous. And it was. The only thing I would have changed was the slight Pop take on the show stopping "This is the Moment." I wanted the song to climax as it did on Broadway. Should you have the opportunity to attend a Musical Theater performance by Virginia Musical Theater you will not be disappointed.

The Sandler Center itself is great. This organization, VMT, that manages their season tickets is…read morenot. Save yourself money and hassle. Avoid dealing with VMT. Buy your tickets at the box office.

Our family is in love with The Hurrah Players. We support shows they produce and camps they offer…read moreevery year. Our children have yet to take any classes to date, but my daughter may do so in the near future. The Hurrah Players began back in 1984 with humble beginnings in a church basement in Ghent. The founder and Artistic Director Hugh Copeland has led his team of thespians for almost 30 years. It has taken years of work, strategic partners that believed in them and ultimately Town Bank to put them in their beautiful new historic building in 2010. Hurrah now calls the original Old Norfolk Academy Building off of St. Paul's Blvd in Norfolk home sweet home. A few unique items about the building. It's architect is Thomas U. Walter, the same man who was the architect of the U.S. Capitol Dome. Also Edgar Allen Poe gave his very last speech here. A 100 seat Perry theater for smaller productions is located in the building. Lager productions are a few blocks away at The Roper Theater. The purpose of The Hurrah Players is not only educational in nature through classes offered at their home, but an appreciation for the arts and dance is instrumental to their mission. Through stages show big and small, Spring Break camps and Summer camps they full fill this mission. Hurrah staff builds confidence in the children they work with and at the end of the day a quality, affordable product for the paying audience when the curtain goes up. The show that is currently in production is Hurrah for the Holiday and tickets are on sale now.. Performances are Dec 13,14,15 at the Roper. This is an annual show and never disappoints. The kids do a great job and you will be into the Christmas spirit after attending. Even if you are not a thespian, or into theater yourself, I urge you to give a Hurrah show an opportunity to impress you. Most of the actors are children and put blood, sweat and tears into their productions. I doubt you will be disappointed and most likely will fall in love with The Hurrah Players much like our family has.

For the past three years, my 13-year-old daughter has been attending summer camps at the Hurrah…read morePlayers. Despite her lack of interest in becoming an actress, singer, or dancer, she continues to ask to return. These summer camps are taken seriously and are challenging. The aim is for each age group to put on a play for their parents at the end of two weeks, so the teachers are very dedicated. The kids are kept active and engaged from the moment they arrive until they leave. Though it can be intense, it is worthwhile if they stick with it after the first three days. The students learn about every aspect of the stage, including singing, acting, dancing, and stage production. Many of the previous camp attendees have gone on to start their careers on Broadway or television. I have enjoyed all of the end-of-camp performances, but the most recent one in June 2023 was exceptional. The Hurrah Players is amazing, and I highly recommend it for your children, whether they want to attend summer camps or classes throughout the year. They will gain a lot of knowledge and make great friends along the way.