Virginia Repertory Theatre | View in browser
November 12, 2021 • Volume VII, Number 8
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
--Helen Keller (June 27, 1880 – June 1, 1968) was an American author, disability rights advocate, and political activist. She lost her sight and hearing after an illness at the age of 19 months. The story of her childhood with lifelong teacher Anne Sullivan is immortalized in the play The Miracle Worker.
The Board of Directors of Virginia Rep proudly announced this week the appointment of Desirée Roots as Co-Artistic Director—Community. Desirée follows Katrinah Carol Lewis, who served as Interim Co-Artistic Director before returning last July to her job with Colonial Williamsburg. Desi has extensive experience connecting the arts and community throughout metro Richmond, serving as Program Coordinator for Richmond Jazz Society and Booking Manager for Downtown Presents (now Venture Richmond). She studied in the graduate Musicology program at University of Michigan, and has a B.A. in Art Education / Performance from VUU. “Desirée is a world-class artist,” stated Felicia Curry, who starred with her in The Color Purple and Dreamgirls. “This appointment marks a giant step forward for ALL of RVA.” “There’s only one Desirée Roots,” raved Scott Wichmann, who played Sinatra to her Fitzgerald in last summer’s Ella and Her Fella Frank. “Look out Virginia! Thanksgiving just came early!”
Virginia Rep has always been different. We seek excellence “equally in four areas: the arts, education, children’s health, and community leadership.” In their current Strategic Plan, under Priority 3: Safe and Loving School Cultures, Richmond Public Schools pledged to “collaborate with the City of Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia to (work) to change policies that are contributing to the school-to-prison pipeline.” In support, Virginia Rep provided 300 free Pipeline tickets to RPS students, and worked with Superintendent Jason Kamras and Margo Buchanan Tacey (RPS Manager of Trauma Response Strategy) to offer free tickets to all RPS teachers. All told, 2,871 people attended Pipeline (662 of them free-of-charge). We engaged in partnerships with VCU Trio, Randolph Macon Sociology Dept, VCU Residential Life, Armstrong Leadership Program / Richmond Hill, and RVA Youth Justice Services. Pipeline was an artistic success. It also contributed significantly to “education, children’s health, and community leadership.” We’re proud.
Check out the Pipeline Student Study Guide HERE.
Once again this year, Virginia Rep participated in the PGA Tour Birdies for Charity Fundraiser presented by TowneBank. Launched in 2016, this fundraiser and golf tournament provides an annual platform for RVA charities to receive contributions from individuals, with a 10% additional match donated by TowneBank. The program culminates in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic golf tournament, held at The Country Club of Virginia. 2021 marked Virginia Rep’s fifth year participating as a registered charity, and we are thrilled to report that we raised a record amount, totaling over $70,000 in donations, which will result in an additional $7,000+ in matching funds. Thank you to everyone who donated to Virginia Rep using this platform! (As luck would have it, on the first playoff hole, Bernhard Langer made a 5-footer for birdie to take the title and his 42nd PGA Tour Champions win.)
This week we heard LOTS of Barefoot excitement. In fact, we had our biggest response to an
email press release—EVER! One of the
major causes for this jubilation? The
return of Joy Williams and Joe Pabst, whose performances are VERY fondly remembered
from our last production of Barefoot in
2006. Joy is going to have a busy
December. In the evenings she’ll be
spreading her namesake emotion at the Tavern; in the mornings she’ll be warming
hearts as Drifty the Snowman at the Mill. (The equally delightful Terri Moore will be Joy’s understudy in Barefoot, just in case anything melts.) Finally, Paige Beauchamp wrote, “Why no
strategic planning focus group for young professionals?” Great question, Paige. Thanks. We’ve added one!
We encourage your comments, corrections and feedback. Please email your thoughts to bmiller@virginiarep.org.
CONNECT WITH US!
