Upcoming events
Burlesque Right Meow
FIREHOUSE FRINGE
Baddies With Saddies: An Emo Burlesque Experience—a burlesque and variety show where performers bring their hearts and black eyeliner to the stage with acts set to their favorite emo and pop punk anthems. From high-energy bangers to heartfelt ballads, these performers will deliver a night of passion, rebellion, and unapologetic feelings.
First Drafts and Bagels: Safety
FIREHOUSE NEW PLAYS
Safety is the serio-comic story of a woman whose recurring nightmare drives her to purchase a gun to protect herself and her mentally challenged mother. When an overly helpful gun seller insinuates himself into her life, the fortress of protection Camille longs for leads to a final confrontation with her biggest fear and a new understanding of what it means to be safe.
Constellations
FIREHOUSE RESIDENT COMPANY
One relationship. Infinite possibilities. Marianne and Roland meet at a party. They go for a drink, or perhaps they don't. They fall madly in love and start dating, but eventually they break up. After a chance encounter in a supermarket they get back together, or maybe they run into each other and Marianne reveals that she's now engaged to someone else and that's that. Or perhaps Roland is engaged. Maybe they get married, or maybe their time together will be tragically short. Constellations is a play about free will and friendship; it's also about quantum multiverse theory, love, and honey.
Closing Night
FIREHOUSE FRINGE
No improvised musical is the same, so witness the opening AND closing night! With suggestions from the audience, this talented team of improvisers weaves (and sings) their way through a full musical! You won’t want to miss this truly unique Closing Night!
Firehouse Radio Players
Join us for an evening of original comedies performed in the style of an old time radio show. The cast of versatile voice actors will bring dozens of characters to life, and the maestro of sound effects will create every footstep, thunder clap, and slammed door right in front of you.
Pop-Up Premiere: The Bell Lyre
FIREHOUSE NEW PLAYS
In the not-so-distant future, on a floodplain nearby, a family struggles to fit a lifetime of memories into seven boxes. In the world of the play, musical instruments are constructed from broken clocks and wallboards, pies are baked from forgotten apples, and shields are donned to catch bullets. The Bell Lyre summons everyday disquiet, lost love, digital barrenness, and Alzheimer’s miracles.
Matt Venuti's AmeriCosmos
FIREHOUSE FRINGE
An immersive, calming, awe-inspiring live music and visual voyage through the heart of nature, the depth of sound, and the vastness of space.
Detroit '67
FIREHOUSE MAINSTAGE
Set to the sweet sounds of Motown, during the race riots that ravaged Detroit in 1967, family bonds are tested by the allure of forbidden love and a desire to stake a claim to the American dream.
A Strange Loop
FIREHOUSE OFFSITE
Hell-bent on breaking free of his own self-perception, Usher, a young, gay, Black writer, writes a musical about a young, gay, Black writer who’s writing a musical about a young, gay, Black writer... a strange loop. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Musical, this heartfelt and blisteringly funny masterwork bursts onto the Richmond Triangle Stage, produced in partnership with Firehouse Theatre.
Lake Effect
FIREHOUSE MAINSTAGE
Two bitterly estranged siblings and their unwitting spouses navigate an uncomfortable and chaotic reunion at the old family lake house to spread the ashes of their late father. Past pains get wrapped up with current struggles in this sardonic and wrenching examination of ‘adulting’.
Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus
FIREHOUSE FRINGE
Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus tells the story of young girl who writes a letter to the editor of the New York Sun. Ed Mitchell, the editor, assigns Frank Church—a reporter on the verge of self destruction—the task of answering Virginia's question. Church's quest and reply have become one of the world's most quoted and beloved editorials.
Pretty Please
FIREHOUSE RESIDENT COMPANY
The PS Project is a movement initiative featuring works by Julia Pasquale in collaboration with Kathleen Brady. Together, they delve into themes of proximity, intimacy, the contrast between closeness and distance, and the urge to connect or withdraw. As they navigate these concepts, Brady and Pasquale are inspired by enigmatic forms and the distinctive ways in which dancing bodies convey subtle messages.
Page to Stage III
FIREHOUSE RESIDENT COMPANY
Starr Foster Dance is excited to present Page to Stage again. 2024 marks the third year! In the Spring of 2015, SFD launched a call for submissions of sudden and flash fiction stories to be created into, and inspire, new dance works. The response was incredible and SFD decided to continue this project and present PAGE TO STAGE II in 2022, including poetry.
Firehouse Radio Players
FIREHOUSE FRINGE
Join us for an evening of original comedies performed in the style of an old time radio show. The cast of versatile voice actors will bring dozens of characters to life, and the maestro of sound effects will create every footstep, thunder clap, and slammed door right in front of you.
Pop-Up Premiere: The Bad Guy
FIREHOUSE NEW PLAYS
When Finn and Deirdre inherit Finn’s childhood home they move in, hoping to repair their marriage and get a fresh start on life. But the woods are far deeper and darker than Finn remembers, and his half-sister has become a stranger. This modern, folk-horror adaptation of The Bacchae is about all the ways we are capable of transforming ourselves and those we love.
Happy Hour Poetry
River City Poets will host a handful of contributors from the 2024 Writing the Land: Virginia anthology, a collection that pairs poets with land trusts/conservation organizations to highlight/speak "for" specific lands throughout the Commonwealth.
Featuring four poets from the book: Jenna Veazey, Gwyn RC Moses, Nan Ottenritter, and Dorinda Wegener, and representatives from the Capital Region Land Conservancy.
Followed by an open mic.
The Rehappening
FIREHOUSE FRINGE
We make hundreds of trillions of choices every day - some important, but most seemingly insignificant. However, with every choice you make, there are a number of different possible outcomes that could’ve been. How would your day have been different if you had taken the stairs instead of the elevator? What mayhem might have ensued had your roommate picked up that delivery order instead of you? Imagine, if you will, a completely improvised show that explores these many alternate timelines...an improvised show that takes a look at what happens when one simple choice carries big consequences...an improvised show called...“The Rehappening.”
Closing Time
FIREHOUSE FRINGE
Bridge 9 presents Closing Night: An Improvised Musical! No improvised musical is the same, so you get to witness both the opening and closing night. With suggestions from the audience this talented team of improvisers weaves (and sings) their way through a full musical! A truly unique experience. You won't want to miss Closing Night of this improvised musical!
Water by the Spoonful
FIREHOUSE MAINSTAGE
This haunting and melodic Pulitzer Prize-winning play serves as a testament to the power of family and friendship for those slipping through the widening cracks of our fractured society. Elliot, a wounded veteran, returns to his home in Philadelphia only to face another heart-wrenching loss. As Elliot and his cousin Yaz navigate their grief, Elliot's biological mother Odessa finds solace and strength in a Narcotics Anonymous support group she moderates online. This gripping play explores the complexities of family, addiction, and healing in the face of overwhelming odds.
First Drafts and Bagels: Your Son
FIREHOUSE NEW PLAYS
After a life-shattering tragedy, a mother must confront her son about the crime he has committed, with all the patience and poise that is demanded of the mothers of violent criminals. Through her desperate attempt to understand her son's motives, Your Son explores the collision of grace and pain; how we survive the unsurvivable, grieve the ungrieveable, forgive the unforgivable.
Cut! Cabaret
FIREHOUSE FRINGE
Come join Elle Meerovich and friends as they sing their way through all the songs that didn’t make the show! As musicals work through the development process, often song selections never make the final score, instead they are lost to the cutting room floor. Cut! Cabaret explores the cut pieces of Broadway musicals. Experience musical gems lost to theatre history - or discover why it never made the show!
Burlesque Right Meow: Twisted Tassels
FIREHOUSE FRINGE
Crank up the volume and feel the heat! From thrashing guitars to dark, heavy beats, Twisted Tassels: A Metal Burlesque Awakening will take you on a wild ride through the world of metal. From headbanging anthems to seductive shreds, our lineup is packed with rebellious glamour and jaw-dropping entertainment. Prepare for a night of raw power, bold moves, and epic performances!
Coming of Age
We can’t escape it. We all do it. Come experience the exploration of aging presented by K Dance featuring the music of John Winn performed live on stage with the dancers.
Firehouse Radio Players
Join us for an evening of original comedies performed in the style of an old time radio show. The cast of versatile voice actors will bring dozens of characters to life, and our maestro of sound effects will create every footstep, thunder clap, and slammed door right in front of you.
Memories of Overdevelopment Screening
Join us at the Firehouse for a special screening of our world premiere production of Memories of Overdevelopment.
The event will feature commentary from director Nathaniel Shaw, associate director Sarbajeet Das, and actor Keaton Hillman. Don’t miss the chance to experience this stunning multimedia play in an entirely new format.
Closing Night
A one-night only fully improvised musical, presented by Bridge 9 Theater. Watch as the talented improvisers performs an original 60min musical based entirely off your suggestions. A truly unique experience and it show is different from the last. You won't want to miss Closing Night of this improvised musical!
True West
Sam Shepard’s True West has earned acclaim and nominations for its exploration of the tumultuous California landscape. Two brothers clash over a film script - Austin, the accomplished writer, and Lee, a wild, demented petty thief. When Lee pitches his gritty Western to the producer, Austin must choose between his modern love story and Lee's unconventional vision.
First Drafts and Bagels: Cincinnati by the Sea
It’s been almost a year and a half since the great flood and only a month since Freddie’s wife, Cleo, abandoned the family. Now a single parent, Freddie struggles to support her mother, Pip, and her son, Noah. Freddie is haunted by a vision of Cleo bent on not letting her move on, while Noah falls head-over-heels for a local boy named Paul. Noah and Freddie are pulled further apart as they struggle with the daily challenges of post-apocalyptic life. When their relationship reaches a breaking point, Noah runs away, leaving Freddie with one last chance to bring her family together.
Memories of Overdevelopment (Stream)
Digital access to a streamed performance of the world premiere of Memories of Overdevelopment by Caridad Svich. Watch virtually anywhere in the world (in your living room, on a plane, on the beach, etc.).
Häxan
Häxan is a Swedish documentary about witchcraft from 1921. Join us for an evening of love potions, ritualistic sacrifices, broomstick rides, and general hysteria. David DiDonato's soundtrack alternates between Gregorian organ dirges and gloom/doom metal. David’s live performance brings new dimensions to the original film.
Happy Hour Poetry
Enjoy a reading by a featured local poet, followed by an open mic session where all are welcome. The Firehouse will offer a cash bar with beer, wine, soda, and snacks, so come on out and soak up the inspiration! $5 suggested donation at the door.
Peter and the Starcatcher
The hilarious Tony Award-winning play with music Peter and the Starcatcher serves as a prequel to the timeless tale of the Boy Who Would Not Grow Up. This whimsical adventure delves into themes of greed and despair, and the unbreakable bonds of friendship, duty, and love, set against a backdrop of marauding pirates.
Mingus Awareness Project
Mingus Awareness Project concerts have been presented since 2007 -- in Richmond, VA (Balliceaux, The Camel, CenterStage Rhythm Hall and Firehouse Theatre); and the Chicago area (Velvet Lounge, FitzGerald’s, Jazz Showcase, Hideout, HotHouse and Martyrs’).
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), is a rapidly progressive disease that causes muscle weakness, difficulty speaking and swallowing and, generally, complete paralysis. In most cases, while the body continues to deteriorate, the mind remains unaffected. The disease does not discriminate, striking any age, gender and race. Every 90 minutes, someone in the US is diagnosed with ALS and every 90 minutes, someone in the US dies of ALS. There is no known cure for ALS and, once diagnosed, patients typically live only three to five years.
Burlesque Right Meow
A Night At The Sinema: A Burlesque Retelling Of Films
Experience A Night At The Sinema on Saturday, July 27th at the Firehouse Theatre! Enjoy an evening of dazzling performances that bring your favorite films to life with a sultry twist! Immerse yourself in a unique cinematic experience that promises glamour, creativity, and entertainment. Get ready for an unforgettable show at the Firehouse Theatre!
Buried Child
Sam Shepard’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Buried Child explores the disintegration of the American Dream, through the eyes of a dysfunctional family in rural Illinois.
Long buried family secrets are unearthed, including a haunting mystery in the backyard.
Buried Child explores themes of decay, denial, and the inescapable grip of the past, as Shepard powerfully critiques the disillusionment with traditional values in contemporary America.
Firehouse Radio Players
The Firehouse Radio Players are back onstage and “on the air!” Join us for an evening of original comedies performed in the style of an old time radio show. That means our cast of versatile voice actors will bring dozens of characters to life, and our maestro of sound effects will create every footstep, thunder clap, and slammed door right in front of you.
The Players love the style and spirit of the Golden Age of Radio, the years between the 1930s and early 1960s when network radio brought comedy, music, mystery, and drama to listeners all over the country. With our shows, we hope to present a new slant on “old time radio,” with microphones at the ready and tongues firmly in cheek.
Words on Fire
Words on Fire is a weeknight poetry happy hour held approximately every other month at Firehouse Theatre since September of 2015.
Each event features a showcase reading by a poet from our community as well as an open mic. Participants and guests alike are encouraged to mingle, sip, and be inspired.
Mid-atlantic Choreographers Showcase
For 20 years, Starr Foster Dance has produced the Mid-Atlantic Choreographers Showcase with the sole mission to expose the general Richmond community, as well as dance and art enthusiasts, to the performing arts. This year’s showcase, we will celebrate PRIDE by presenting works that embrace LGBTQIA+ themes and concepts regarding gender, sex, and sexuality. The choreographers have been selected through an adjudication process with the ultimate goal of providing three performances of eclectic and engaging dance works in one weekend.
Through the Choreographers Showcase, Starr Foster Dance has produced over 250 choreographers from 65 different cities and has continually been the only dance festival on the east coat that provides support for new works by professional dance artists and companies. It is incredibly inspiring, each and every year, to be able to present such a variety of gifted choreographers and introduce them to the flourishing RVA art scene.
Blood from a Turnip
Blood from a Turnip is a Puppet Salon celebrating the diversity of puppet expression and the range of folks who tell stories through objects. Since its founding in 1997, the event has presented short form puppet shows in a variety of styles and incubates the professional and amateur puppeteer alike.
First Drafts and Bagels: The bell Lyre
Come out to Firehouse Theatre for mimosas and bagels and participate in the creative process of making a new play.
First Drafts and Bagels brings together playwrights, directors, performers, and you to hear, then talk about, new plays.
The Bell Lyre by K Jenkins