Main Stage at the Kimball Theatre, the Dr. Mary T. Christian Auditorium and the Yoder Barn Theatre
2008, November - December "The Gift of the Magi" by Robert Ruffin
"A beloved old Christmas classic, The Gift of the Magi retains all its sentimental charm and style, but gains emotional and theatrical muscle in the Virginia’s Premiere Theatre’s new stage version.
Playwright Robert Ruffin has endowed writer O. Henry’s sweet, tart little tale of impoverished and devoted sweethearts with what is, figuratively, the graceful, firm physique of a well conditioned modern dancer.
From the very first words that Della speaks—"One dollar and eighty seven cents," heard in darkness—Ruffin’s script shows, unmistakably but unobtrusively, the hand of a true man of the theater. Its plot and its characters all fit together precisely into a dynamic, neatly functioning structure that seamlessly incorporates and proceeds from O. Henry’s original story." Montague Gammon, III - Portfolio Weekly
2008, September - October "Nixon's Nixon" by Russell Lees
"This highly entertaining political satire is given an impeccable production under the direction of Rebecca Taylor. She captures every jowl shaking nuance of Richard Nixon a let's us peer into the brain of his slick and scheming Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Two exactly right actors, David L. Carson (Nixon) and Jeffrey Farber (Kissinger) with Taylor, create a theatre experience of a caliber we are rarely privileged to behold. And they do it in a sizzling electric 80 minutes that crackles with wit and a good deal of pathos as well.
This is the fifth season of this extraordinary professional theatre company. I think I've seen every one of their productions. Each has been done with fine actors, peerless taste and skill. " Edgar Loessin - WHRO Radio
© Lausanne Davis Carpenter
2007, November - December "The Gift of the Magi" by
Robert Ruffin
(World Premiere)
"Lerman presents the material with dazzling speed, and his considerable directorial wits forge a seamless whole of the play's intricate structure... His control over crisply defined characters, their interrelationships, and a high-powered pace, produces an example of sustained and dynamic ensemble work." - Bruno Koch, Portfolio Weekly
"The ensemble performers in this production were all top rate." - Anne Effimetz, Virginia Gazette
2007, September - October "The K of D" by
Laura Schellhardt
(World Premiere)
"A Tour de Force... chameleon like performance" - Anne Effimetz, Virginia Gazette
"Mary Wadkins plays 17 discrete roles that left last Friday night's audience rapt with attention. Subtle sound effects were timed within a millisecond as she told a riveting story about growing up in rural Ohio. " - Bill O'Donovan, Virginia Gazette
"Mary Wadkins is a hard act to follow for other theatres... a conjure woman, blessed with extraordinary acting powers... with flashes of brilliant explosions that make this thriller a riveting hour and a half or so in the theatre.... I've never seen a performance quite like this one in any of our area's theatres or anywhere else for that matter....Playwright Schellhardt's dialogue and narration are a mother lode of lyrical beauty and hypnotic intensity. You want to grasp every word... Director Rebecca Taylor finds every possible color and variation in guiding Wadkins through her thesaurus of characters." –Edgar Loessin, WHRO Radio
"Schellhardt's dialogue uncannily captures
the idiosyncratic rhythms and linguistic ornamentations of today's
teenspeak... the language nonetheless transcends the mundane by a
subtle poetic quality that marks good playwriting. Albeit
highly episodic in structure, the numerous scenes, together with
their multiple localities, are linked with a fluency reminiscent
of a leaf smoothly bobbing down a mountain stream.... An outstanding
piece of work! The audience
happily vented their appreciation. Among
the unmerited standing ovations that have flooded local theatres
in recent years, Wadkins' was genuinely earned.
2007, April - "Smith! Being the Life and Death of Cap'n John" by Ivor Noel Hume (World Premiere)
"It makes a vital contribution to the 400th Anniversary of Jamestown's founding, and seems destined to become one of the major theatrical attractions in Colonial Williamsburg's future." - Bruno Koch, Portfolio Weekly
"...is inventive, witty and a drama well worth seeing." - Ron Boucher, OnHamptonRoads.com
2006, May - Holidays With Halliday featuring Lynne Halliday and Dennis
Buck (World Premiere)
Holidays with Halliday
2006, May - Winning Liberty Land by Robert Ruffin (World Premiere)
"Director Rebecca Taylor and choreographer Michelle Isler join forces in producing a full hour of rollicking fun. John Tracy's delightful musical stew keeps the audience humming ... Winning Liberty Land should be a refreshing addition to this summer's offerings." – Bruno Koch, Portfolio Weekly
2006, March - This History of Rock, Volume II featuring Bad Dog (World Premiere)
2006, February - Love Letters by A.R. Gurney
2005, October - Don't Dance Me Outside by William Borden (World Premiere)
"In the highly skilled hands of director Peter Moore and such seasoned actors as Julian Bailey (Butch) and Phyllis Wright (Ardis), the material takes on a life of memorable vibrancy. Moore moves the play along with fluidity and imagination. Congratulations are in order... may sold out houses be their reward." – Bruno Koch, Portfolio Weekly
2005, September - History of Rock, Volume I featuring Bad Dog
(World Premiere)
2005, June - The Waiting Room by Simon Brook (World Premiere)
" this world premiere of "The Waiting Room" by Simon Brook is a sheer delight from start to finish. I hope the City Fathers of Williamsburg and its citizens take notice of what's in their midst." –Edgar Loessin, WHRO public radio, Norfolk
2005, February - The Belle of Amherst by William Luce
2005, February - An Evening With the Great English Poets by Robert Ruffin (World Premiere)
2004, November - A Chesapeake Celebration! by Robert P. Arthur, Robert Ruffin, Bob Zentz (World Premiere)
"...last week we heard from an individual who happened to have been visiting Williamsburg and attended the show. He had never heard of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation before, but after seeing "A Chesapeake Celebration!" he has donated $5,000 to CBF." –Chuck Epes, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Script subsequently published by San Francisco Bay Press
2004, May - Pen Pals by Michael Griffo (World Premiere)
Script subsequently published by Limelight Scripts, UK
2003, September - A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey (World Premiere Revised Script)
"Mary Wadkins gives a whirlwind, Tour de Force performance of this cavalcade of a woman's life." – Edgar Loessin, WHRO public radio
2001, August - Joanna's Husband and David's Wife by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey (Regional Premiere)
"...If this production is indicative of others to come, our theatre menu is about to be greatly enriched." – Edgar Loessin, WHRO public radio, Norfolk
 |
| "Virginia Premiere Theatre with its exceptional productions is a major addition to our artistic environment. our region will be greatly enriched" |
| - Jeanne Zeidler, Mayor of Williamsburg |
| "The audience rewarded the production with a deserved standing ovation." |
| - Portfolio Magazine |
| "An extraordinary life, on stage.well done." |
| - David Nicholson, The Daily Press |
| "Peter Moore's direction is just right all the time. Lausanne Davis-Carpenter's sets and Todd Cooke's lighting are most effective. Don't miss this one." |
| - Edgar Loessin, WHRO Public Radio |
