Virginia Repertory Theatre
4204 Hermitage Road, Richmond, Virginia 23227 Directions
Box Office (804) 282-2620
The main theatre is named in memory of Jessica (Jessie) Michael Bogese
Virginia Rep Center for Arts and Education is the home of our Family Season and education programs.
Virginia Rep Center for Arts and Education began as Theatre IV, a nonprofit founded in 1975 as Virginia’s first professional theatre for young audiences. Efforts were focused on the arts and education as Theatre IV performed in every school district in Virginia and toured regularly to 32 states.
In 1986, we purchased and restored the historic November Theatre (which opened in 1911 as the Empire Theatre). Children’s performances took place in this lavish 553 seat venue, one of Richmond’s two Broadway style houses. Further restoration was completed after Sara Belle and Neil November made a $2 million gift. Today the November Theatre is our home for the Signature Season as well as performances in the Theatre Gym, and it anchors The Arts District.
The Children’s Theatre moved to the Willow Lawn Shopping Center from 1996 to 2020. As part of a Capital Campaign, Virginia Rep purchased the former Scottish Rite Temple in 2022 and moved all family and children’s programming here, to 4204 Hermitage Road in the Bellevue neighborhood. Today, this facility houses Virginia Rep on Tour, along with our Education camps, classes and rehearsals. The Family Season is presented in the 650-seat mainstage space, named the Jessie Bogese Theatre, following a $1 million memorial gift from her family.
The facility features a 650-seat main auditorium and two smaller studio stages. There is rehearsal space for our 18 annual tour productions that reach over 400,000 students and families across the country. In addition, there is room to double the number of camps, classes, and workshops currently offered.
Read the Press Release
In December, 2022, Virginia Rep received a $1 million naming gift from Susan Stevens Bogese and her two children, Allyson Bogese Ashcraft (Jay) and Michael Bogese III, to name the main theatre at our new Virginia Rep Center in memory of their daughter/sibling Jessica (Jessie) Michael Bogese, who passed away unexpectedly in March, 2021. Read More...