Mission

Virginia Premiere Theatre, formally known as Playwrights Premiere Theatre, is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) professional theatre company in residence at the Kimball Theatre on the Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg and Christopher Newport University’s 290 seat Yoder Barn Theatre in Newport News.  

It is the mission of Virginia Premiere Theatre to enrich local communities, enhance economic prosperity, educate youth and bring national recognition to Virginia's arts through the presentation of new plays.

Virginia Premiere Theatre hosts national tourists, visitors and residents from over 18 counties and 6 cities (Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg). In addition, VPT is one of the few companies in Virginia focusing on new plays in order to foster artistic and social growth. VPT has presented many world premiere productions at the Kimball Theatre, including an Australian premiere that brought international recognition to Virginia; (the Cultural Attaché from the Australian Embassy attended performances and radio announcements were featured on the Australian Broadcasting Network). VPT's world premieres have brought to Virginia award-winning writers from New York, Los Angeles and Houston as well as Broadway directors and actors. VPT's world premieres have reached audiences around the country and around the globe.

In addition to its World Premiere Productions at the Kimball Theatre, VPT tours programs to urban and rural communities around the state and performs educational programs in universities and schools throughout the Commonwealth.

In 2008, VPT was designated by Virginians for the Arts as an "Arts Builds Community" company, a designation that distinguishes it among 45 other arts organizations through Virginia as primary examples of how arts can enhance communities in the Commonwealth.