Barksdale Theatre

It continues on as Virginia Repertory Theatre's Barksdale Season at Hanover Tavern under the leadership of Artistic Directors Rick Hammerly, Todd D. Norris, and Desiree Roots.

The transplanted New Yorkers founded Central Virginia’s first professional theatre, and named the company in memory of a deceased college friend, Barbara Barksdale.

When they learned that their new neighbors looked forward to eating on evenings out, they combined favorite recipes and created the nation’s first dinner theater.

In 1973, Barksdale produced Virginia’s first professional play based on African American experience, Lorraine Hansberry’s To Be Young, Gifted and Black.

[1][2] For the full list of Barksdale Theatre productions from 1953 to the most recent post-merger seasons as Virginia Repertory Theatre's Barksdale Season at Hanover Tavern, see Virginia Repertory Theatre: Past Productions The seasons leading up to the merger of Barksdale and Theatre IV included the following: 2011–2012 Signature Season Presented at Willow Lawn and the Empire Theatre (now known as the November Theatre) Lend Me a Tenor, by Ken Ludwig (September 9 - October 16, 2011) My Fair Lady, music by Frederick Loewe, lyrics & book by Alan Jay Lerner (November 25, 2011 - January 8, 2012) - presented at the historic Empire Theatre in celebration of its 100th Anniversary God of Carnage, by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton (February 3 - March 11, 2012) Scorched Earth, by David Robbins, WORLD PREMIERE (April 13 - May 20, 2012) Spring Awakening, book & lyrics by Steven Sater, music by Duncan Sheik (June 15 - July 22, 2012) - presented at the Empire Theatre 2011–2012 Hanover Tavern Season Becky's New Car, by Steven Dietz (September 23 - November 6, 2011) Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas, by Bruce Craig Miller, musical arrangements by H. Drew Perkins, WORLD PREMIERE (November 25, 2011 - January 8, 2012) Always...Patsy Cline, written and originally directed by Ted Swindley, based on a true story (January 20 - March 25, 2012) Relatively Speaking, by Alan Ayckbourn (July 13 - August 12, 2012) 2010–2011 Signature Season Shipwrecked!, by Donald Margulies (September 17 - October 24, 2010) White Christmas, music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by David Ives and Paul Blake (November 19 - January 9, 2011) - presented at the Empire Theatre Legacy of Light, by Karen Zacarias (February 4 - March 13, 2011) Circle Mirror Transformation, by Annie Baker (April 15 - May 22, 2011) Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, music & lyrics by David Yazbek, book by Jeffrey Lane (June 17 - August 7, 2011) - presented at the Empire Theatre 2009–2010 Signature Season Boleros for the Disenchanted, by José Rivera (September 18 – October 25, 2009) The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, by Rachel Sheinkin and William Finn (November 20 – January 17, 2010) The Grapes of Wrath, by Frank Galati (February 12 – March 21, 2010) Is He Dead?, by Mark Twain (April 16 – May 23, 2010) The Sound of Music, music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse (June 4 – July 4, 2010) - presented at the Empire Theatre 2008–2009 Signature Season The Clean House, by Sarah Ruhl (September 26 – November 2, 2008) The Wonderful Life, by Steve Murray, conceived by Mark Setlock (November 28 – January 11, 2009) Children of a Lesser God, by Mark Medoff (February 6 – March 22, 2009) Well, by Lisa Kron (April 17 – May 24, 2009) Thoroughly Modern Millie, book by Richard Henry Morris, music by Jeanine Tesori, new lyrics by Dick Scanlan (June 19 – August 2, 2009) - presented at the Empire Theatre 2007–2008 Signature Season The Member of the Wedding, by Carson McCullers (September 21 – October 28, 2007) Moonlight and Magnolias, by Ron Hutchinson (November 23 – January 20, 2008) Doubt, by John Patrick Shanley (February 15 – March 16, 2008) The Little Dog Laughed, by Douglas Carter Beane (April 11 – May 18, 2008) Guys and Dolls, by Frank Loesser (June 13 – August 17, 2008) - presented at the Empire Theatre 2006–2007 Signature Season The Constant Wife, by Somerset Maugham (September 22 – October 29, 2006) Mame, book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, music and lyrics by Jerry Herman (November 17 – January 28, 2007) Brooklyn Boy, by Donald Margulies (February 16 – March 25, 2007) Intimate Apparel, by Lynn Nottage (April 13 – May 20, 2007) Into the Woods, book by James Lapine, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim (June 15 – August 12, 2007) 2005–2006 Signature Season The Drawer Boy, by Michael Healey (September 23 – November 6, 2005) Scapino!, adapted by Frank Dunlop and Jim Dale (November 25 - January 22, 2006) The Lark, by Jean Anouilh, adapted by Lillian Hellman (February 10 – April 2, 2006) The Syringa Tree, by Pamela Gein (April 21 – Mary 21, 2006) The Full Monty, book by Terrence McNally, music and lyrics by David Yazbek (June 9 – August 13, 2006) Since the Hanover Tavern re-opened in 2006, Barksdale has also offered a series of shows presented at the Hanover Tavern, in addition to its Signature Season.

These seasons include: 2011 Hanover Season A Thousand Clowns by Herb Gardner Boeing, Boing, by Marc Camoletti, translated by Beverley Cross Becky's New Car, by Steven Dietz Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas, (world premiere) by Bruce Craig Miller, musical arrangements by H. Drew Perkins 2010 Hanover Season First Baptist of Ivy Gap by Ron Osborne Butterflies Are Free, by Leonard Gershe On Golden Pond, by Ernest Thompson Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming, by Connie Ray, conceived by Alan Bailey, musical arrangements by Mike Craver Nunsense, book, music and lyrics Dan Goggin 2009 Hanover Season Mona’s Arrangements (world premiere), book by Bo Wilson, music by Steve Liebman, lyrics by Steve Liebman and Bo Wilson (February 27 – April 19, 2009) I Ought To Be In Pictures, by Neil Simon (May 15 – June 28, 2009) Fully Committed, by Becky Mode (July 24 – August 30, 2009) Souvenir, by Stephen Temperley (September 25 – November 1, 2009) Bus Stop, by William Inge (November 27 – January 10, 2010) 2008 Hanover Season Greater Tuna, by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, and Ed Howard (March 28 – June 15, 2008) Shirley Valentine, by Willy Russell (July 11 – August 24, 2008) Driving Miss Daisy, by Alfred Uhry (September 19 – October 26, 2008) Sanders Family Christmas, book by Connie Ray, conceived by Alan Bailey, musical Arrangements by John Foley and Gary Fagin (November 21 – March 1, 2009) 2007 Hanover Season Smoke on the Mountain, by Connie Ray (February 23 – April 25, 2007) The Odd Couple, by Neil Simon (June 29 – August 12, 2007) Deathtrap, by Ira Levin (September 14 – October 21, 2007) Swingtime Canteen, by Linda Thorsen Bond, William Repicci and Charles Busch (November 16 – January 6, 2008) 2006 Hanover Season Barefoot in the Park, by Neil Simon (January 27 - March 12, 2006) No Sex Please, We're British, by Anthony Marriott and Alistair Foot (April 28 - June 18, 2006) The Mousetrap, by Agatha Christie (September 8 - October 29, 2006) Over the River and Through the Woods, by Joe DiPietro (November 16, 2006 - January 7, 2007)