We promised to begin profiling our three new Artistic Directors this week, and we’re beginning with Desirée Roots, Artistic Director—Community. All three of our ADs share the weight of our company’s artistic leadership, partnering on many decisions while contributing expertise from individual perspectives. Desirée’s principal responsibility is to ensure that our mission-driven commitment to community remains front-and-center in every aspect of our work. We ALWAYS will belong to ALL of Greater Richmond and Virginia. Desi began working with us as a 16-year-old intern, and starred/co-starred in countless productions, including Ain’t Misbehavin’, Caroline or Change, The Color Purple, Dreamgirls, Ella and Her Fella, Honk!, The Magic Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Mame, and Once on This Island. A graduate of Virginia Union, Desi’s been a stalwart leader with Downtown Presents and the Richmond Jazz Society. We’re privileged to enlist her many talents at our helm.

While local audiences cheer our mainstage runs of Beehive, Mamma Mia! and the like, hundreds of thousands of students throughout metro Richmond, all of VA, and the eastern half of the United States learn and laugh with Virginia Rep’s acclaimed touring programs. Education is a HUGE part of our business model. During the semester that just ended, we eased back into the pandemic-ravaged touring arena, mounting productions of Harriet Tubman, Have You Filled Your Bucket Today?, Hugs and Kisses, I Have a Dream, The Little Red Hen, and The Three Little Pigs. Our intrepid casts knocked ‘em dead from Radford to VA Beach and Waterville, Maine to Miami, FL. Even after many COVID-caused cancellations, we presented 268 performances in 199 localities, adding $413,218 to our recovering annual revenues. Thanks and congratulations to all the actors, directors, playwrights, designers and teaching artists who donned their masks and made it possible!