Lime Kiln Theater

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Lexington, VA
Lime Kiln Theater

Lime Kiln Theater is rooted in and inspired by the magic of a natural, outdoor theater. Our mailing address is PO Box 1244, Lexington, Virginia, 24450.
(262)

In 1967, two Washington and Lee University students, Tommy Spencer and Don Baker, produced A Midsummer Night’s Dream in an abandoned, turn-of-the-century lime quarry and kiln located in Lexington, Virginia. Fifteen years later, Tommy Spencer convinced the owner of the site containing the quarry to donate the use of the land for the establishment of a non-profit arts organization. After thousands o

f volunteer hours to clear the brambles, thickets, and rubble and to build the stage, the first Lime Kiln Theater season was presented in 1984. From that summer season of one play, 12 performances, and an audience of 2,000, Lime Kiln expanded to an annual season peak of 74 performances of four plays and 23 concerts for an audience of nearly 25,000. Through Lime Kiln, artists have created and premiered 20 original scripts, and helped develop eight works by other playwrights. In February 2012, the theater temporarily ceased operations due to challenging economic conditions. In 2014, a newly energized Lime Kiln board, led by Executive Director Spencer McElroy, undertook the challenge to bring the unique performance space back to life. Across seven seasons from 2014-2021 (discounting the pandemic-canceled 2020 season), Lime Kiln has presented 60 public, ticketed concerts along with 10 theatrical productions. A vast majority of the music events have sold out, and most have also been fully sponsored by local and regional businesses and organizations. Across these seven seasons, we have sold approximately 35,000 tickets, while total attendance (combining all public and private events) has approached 70,000.

07/27/2026

Don’t miss out as Traveling Players Ensemble returns to Lime Kiln this weekend! Join us Saturday, August 1, for their rendition of the Shakespearean epic romance “Winter’s Tale”.

Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 on the day. The show will run for 2.5 hours with a 15-minute intermission.

There will be no food trucks for this show, but outside food will be allowed into the venue for this event. Please feel free to pack a picnic and enjoy it in our Lobby before the show! No outside alcohol. Beer, wine, cider, non-alcoholic beverages, and snacks will be available for purchase at the Cabin.

This show is not included with the Season Pass, so reserve your spot today!

Winter’s Tale is an epic romance that spans two kingdoms, four marriages, and sixteen years. A friendly visit from the king of Bohemia to the neighboring kingdom of Sicily becomes an international scandal when the local King Leontes accuses his own wife of adultery with his guest. The situation quickly spirals out of control, and Leontes is left with no wife, no children, and a kingdom in decline. Shakespeare’s Tale explores how jealousy, redemption, and forgiveness can tear families apart and bring them together. Join Traveling Players in a world of thieving pick-pockets, omniscient oracles, and very hungry bears.

https://aftontickets.com/event/buyticket/3px8elynx1

07/20/2026

It's always a great night when Seldom Scene takes the Lime Kiln stage! Were you there for this SOLD OUT show?

Thanks to our show sponsor Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group and our season sponsors J.F. Brown Real Estate Services, Lexington Animal Hospital, and UTS Systems, LLC, and to Kelly Nye for the great snaps! 📸

07/17/2026

We’re thrilled to continue our 2026 Summer Concert Series with an amazing SOLD OUT show tonight, as Seldom Scene returns to the Lime Kiln stage. Tonight’s concert is presented by Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group.

Parking gates will open at 5:30 pm. Venue doors open at 6:00 pm, and the music begins at 8pm. We’ll have Love All BBQ, Globowl Cafe, and Sexi Mexi on site, along with a fantastic selection of beer, wine, and other beverages for purchase. We’re expecting warm temperatures tonight so please be mindful of the heat, hydrate, and notify staff if you aren’t feeling well so we can assist you.

Tonight’s show will take place in the Bowl.

For more details about parking, seating, concessions, and other venue information, be sure to browse our Plan Your Visit page and scroll down to read the FAQs. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

See you tonight!

06/27/2026

Our 2026 Summer Concert Series continues TONIGHT with another SOLD OUT show with The SteelDrivers and support from Tanasi. Tonight’s concert is presented by Spencer Home Center.

Due to the forecast, the show tonight will be in the Kiln. To accommodate all of our guests for a SOLD OUT show under the tent, half of the venue will be seated, and half will be standing room only. Lime Kiln will provide a small reserved seating area for our ADA guests, and the rest of the seating will be as follows:

Outside of the reserved ADA section, seating provided by Lime Kiln will be first come first serve. If you have specific ADA needs, please reach out to Emily Laney at [email protected]. We will also have a section reserved for personal chairs, and setup will be facilitated by our Ushers. Camp chairs take up a lot of space! If you need to or prefer to sit for the show, please arrive early to secure your seat. The remainder of the tented area will be dedicated to standing room only.

Parking gates will open at 5:30 pm. Venue doors open at 6:00 pm, and the music begins at 7:30pm. We’ll have Bizzee Bee's, Globowl Cafe and Sexi Mexi on site, along with a fantastic selection of beer, wine, and other beverages for purchase.

For more details about parking, seating, concessions, and other venue information, be sure to browse our Plan Your Visit page and scroll down to read the FAQs. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

See you all tonight!

06/26/2026

Our 2026 Summer Concert Series continues this weekend with an amazing SOLD OUT bonus show tonight, as The SteelDrivers take the Lime Kiln stage with support from Tanasi. Tonight’s concert is presented by Lexington Real Estate Connection and is not included in our 2026 Season Pass.

Parking gates will open at 5:30 pm. Venue doors open at 6:00 pm, and the music begins at 7:30pm. We’ll have Love All BBQ, Globowl Cafe and Sexi Mexi on site, along with a fantastic selection of beer, wine, and other beverages for purchase.

Tonight’s show will take place in the Bowl. The weather forecast may include passing showers, so dress and plan accordingly.

For more details about parking, seating, concessions, and other venue information, be sure to browse our Plan Your Visit page and scroll down to read the FAQs. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
See you all tonight!

06/24/2026

Show update! The Traveling Players will now be performing "Winter's Tale" on August 1 at Lime Kiln! If you already purchased tickets to King Lear those will still get you in on August 1. Don't miss this epic romance with perhaps the most famous stage direction in Shakespeare - "Exit, pursued by a bear." 😆🐻🎭

Tickets only $15 in advance https://aftontickets.com/event/buyticket/3px8elynx1

"Winter’s Tale is an epic romance that spans two kingdoms, four marriages, and sixteen years. A friendly visit from the king of Bohemia to the neighboring kingdom of Sicily becomes an international scandal when the local King Leontes accuses his own wife of adultery with his guest. The situation quickly spirals out of control, and Leontes is left with no wife, no children, and a kingdom in decline. Shakespeare’s Tale explores how jealousy, redemption, and forgiveness can tear families apart and bring them together. Join Traveling Players in a world of thieving pick-pockets, omniscient oracles, and very hungry bears."

06/09/2026

We're still buzzing from Friday night when Dan Tyminski Band returned to the Lime Kiln stage with support from Garrett Boys. Were you there? Let us know and share your favorite song!

Thanks to our show sponsor The Bank of the James and our season sponsors J.F. Brown Real Estate Services, Lexington Animal Hospital, and UTS Systems, LLC, and to Hank Strauss and Andrew Markowitz for the great snaps! 📸

06/05/2026

Our 2026 Summer Concert Series continues tonight with an amazing SOLD OUT show as Dan Tyminski returns to the Lime Kiln stage with support from Garrett Boys. Tonight’s concert is presented by Bank of the James.

Tonight's show will take place in the Bowl. Parking gates will open at 5:30 pm. Venue doors open at 6:00 pm, and the music begins at 7:30pm. We’ll have Love All BBQ, Globowl Cafe and Daddy Mack’s Grub Shack on site, along with a fantastic selection of beer, wine, and other beverages for purchase. And don't forget to check out our NEW merch! We'll see you under the stars.

05/26/2026

ICYMI: We just announced an opener for Jake Worthington on September 18th. We're thrilled to have Kenny Whitmire support Jake in what's sure to be an unforgettable night. If you're into timeless country crooners, you don't want to miss this show.

Tickets are still available, but moving fast. Grab yours today at limekilntheater.org!

Jake Worthington Kenny Whitmire

Address

607 Borden Road
Lexington, VA
24450

Website

http://www.limekilntheater.org/

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