VCUarts Theatre

VCUarts Theatre Pre-professional training in all aspects of Theatre at VCUarts in Richmond, VA. MFA, BFA, BA degrees.

The department provides students with the professional and cultural foundations essential for achieving the highest standards of the art of theatre. Our faculty and alumni practice their craft as artists locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. They work on the stage, in TV and films, author books in their disciplines, and hold elected offices in some of the nationโ€™s most prestigious organizations. Collectively, the faculty and staff pride themselves on their ability to help you bridge the gap between life as a student and life as a professional beyond VCU.

Introducing the cast of Romeo & Juliet, An LGBTQIA+ Love Story ๐ŸŒน๐Ÿ’ซIn the midst of overwhelming life circumstances, how ca...
09/10/2026

Introducing the cast of Romeo & Juliet, An LGBTQIA+ Love Story ๐ŸŒน๐Ÿ’ซ

In the midst of overwhelming life circumstances, how can we empower ourselves to reclaim what was always ours to hold dear?

๐ŸŒŸ October 1โ€“4 at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets and more info: arts.vcu.edu/theatre/mainstage-season/currently-showing/

โš”๏ธ๐Ÿซ€ You know the story. You don't know this version. ๐Ÿ’ซ VCUarts Theatre's production of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Jul...
08/31/2026

โš”๏ธ๐Ÿซ€ You know the story. You don't know this version.

๐Ÿ’ซ VCUarts Theatre's production of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet is an exploration of identity, archetype, and the navigation of internal desire in relation to the external expression of the self.

๐ŸŽŸ Tickets: bit.ly/vcutheatretix

In what ways do we elect to โ€œperformโ€ roles that are often out of alignment with our true inner selves? When the comedy of life turns tragic, how can we break from constricting societal expectations, cultural limitations, and inherited trauma to expand through perceived endless cycles and into undefined territory?

In this production, the timeless tale and classic text are approached from a collective of unique perspectives that dare to confront both the structure of the story itself and the intentional framing of it. In the midst of overwhelming life circumstances, how can we empower ourselves to reclaim what was always ours to hold dear?

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR: Irene Kuykendall, is a director, actor, and educator with a Masterโ€™s in Text & Performance from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and conservatory training from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in NYC. Directing credits include: The Cottage, Moriarty: A New Sherlock Holmes Mystery, and A Broadway Christmas (Virginia Rep), GASLIGHT (Swift Creek Mill), The Importance of Being Earnest (Richmond Shakespeare at RTP), and Twelfth Night (RCT). Educational direction includes: The Addams Family, ALL SHOOK UP and The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley (Virginia Rep, Summer Showtime), CLUE and MEAN GIRLS (MHS), The Good Fight (ARGS), Emma! A Pop Musical (MWRGS), and more.

Poster by Max Montalvo

Happy first week of classes! ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ’› We canโ€™t wait for another semester of creativity, growth, and all the things that make t...
08/19/2026

Happy first week of classes! ๐Ÿ๐Ÿ’› We canโ€™t wait for another semester of creativity, growth, and all the things that make this community so special.
Letโ€™s get to work on another unforgettable season! ๐ŸŽญ

๐Ÿ“ท Photography by Aaron Sutton and McNair Evans

Mark your calendars! ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Our welcome meeting is this Monday the 17th in Hodges Theatre (in the WE Singleton Center). โœจ Ne...
08/16/2026

Mark your calendars! ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Our welcome meeting is this Monday the 17th in Hodges Theatre (in the WE Singleton Center). โœจ

New students, arrive by 1:30 to mingle, then everyone gathers for the full meeting from 2:00 to 3:00.

See you there!

Congratulations to the legendary Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates -  Dr. T -  on her retirement after 22 years with VCU Theatr...
05/21/2026

Congratulations to the legendary Dr. Tawnya Pettiford-Wates - Dr. T - on her retirement after 22 years with VCU Theatre! ๐ŸŽญ Tawnya Pettiford-Wates

Since joining VCU in 2004, she built a body of work truly inseparable from the life of the community around it. ๐Ÿ’›

With an extensive career spanning Broadway, film, television, and beyond, Dr. T brought world-class artistry and a deep commitment to social justice to everything she touched.
As co-founder and artistic director of The Conciliation Project, she created one of VCU's most distinctive and impactful social justice theater programs.

We are so honored to have had her as part of the VCUarts family, Thank you for everything, Dr. T! โœจ

Read more here: https://arts.vcu.edu/news/six-decades-of-excellence-celebrating-the-distinguished-careers-of-six-retiring-faculty/

Meet Brian Barker (BFA '03)  VCUarts Theatre alum, Richmond native, and founder of Barker Designs. ๐ŸŽจ๐ŸŽญThe Theatre alum  c...
05/20/2026

Meet Brian Barker (BFA '03) VCUarts Theatre alum, Richmond native, and founder of Barker Designs. ๐ŸŽจ๐ŸŽญ

The Theatre alum came home to Richmond and built a set design company that spans "Sesame Street," gubernatorial inaugurations and presidential campaign rallies, with VCUarts alumni at every turn.

"The quality of people coming out of the VCU theatre program is, and always has been, very good." โ€” Brian Barker, BFA '03

Read the full story by Anastasia Mineiro
๐Ÿ”—

Photo: Barker Design has helped stage events for a variety of clients, including โ€œSesame Street.โ€ (Contributed image) Brian Barker, B.F.A. โ€™03 isnโ€™t where he thought heโ€™d be, but he isโ€ฆ

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ ๐ŸŒŸSave the date: 2026-27 VCUarts Theatre Mainstage seasonVCUarts Theatre is excited to announce the 2026-27 Mainstage ...
05/13/2026

๐Ÿ—“๏ธ ๐ŸŒŸSave the date: 2026-27 VCUarts Theatre Mainstage season

VCUarts Theatre is excited to announce the 2026-27 Mainstage season featuring a variety of genres, styles and time periods, including a classic from William Shakespeare.This season explores a variety of topics while supporting student growth across acting, design and technology.

The lineup includes a timeless story of star-crossed lovers approached in a new way; a play that addresses mental health, addiction and the pressures of modern life; a provocative comedy that takes place over the course of one womanโ€™s life, highlighting the history of racial stereotyping in Hollywood; and culminates with a spring musical that features the lengths one man would go to ensure his success.

๐Ÿ“ โ€œRomeo and Juliet, a LGBTQIA+ Love Storyโ€
By William Shakespeare
Oct. 1-4, 2026

๐Ÿ“ โ€œPeople, Places and Thingsโ€
By Duncan Macmillan
Nov. 12-15, 2026

๐Ÿ“ โ€œBy the Way, Meet Vera Starkโ€
By Lynn Nottage
Feb. 25-28, 2027

๐Ÿ“ โ€œMerrily We Roll Alongโ€
Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by George Furth
Based on the original play by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick
April 16-25, 2027

Tickets to the fall productions go on sale late this summer. Stay turned for information about purchasing our newly launching ticket packages by keeping up to date with the season and tickets: arts.vcu.edu/theatre/mainstage-season/

โœจ Alumni Spotlight!We're always excited to see our alumni out there doing big things, and Malorie Mackey is no exception...
05/12/2026

โœจ Alumni Spotlight!
We're always excited to see our alumni out there doing big things, and Malorie Mackey is no exception! ๐ŸŽฌ

Her unique adventure travel show, Weird World Adventures, is now streaming Season 2 on Amazon Prime and the Fawesome app (Roku, Fire TV, Amazon TV, and Apple TV)!

Follow along as Malorie and her team explore the weird, wonderful, and unexpected corners of our world.

๐ŸŽฅ Watch on Amazon Prime: https://www.primevideo.com/detail/0KZ4MYC9RLM0996OQFF3KH7SY2/ref=atv_dp_season_select_s2

๐Ÿ“บ Watch on Fawesome: https://fawesome.tv/shows/92976/weird-world-adventures

Congratulations, Malorie! You make us so proud. ๐ŸŽ‰

05/09/2026

A HUGE congratulations is in order for the graduating class of 2026! ๐ŸŽ‰

A wonderful graduation day yesterday with lots of tears and laughter and celebration. We will miss you guys so much and cannot wait to see what you all get up to next!

Your impact will stay with this department forever! ๐ŸŒŸ๐Ÿค

VIDEO:

๐ŸŒŸ Spotlight: Zeke Valade ๐ŸŒŸ You may have caught Zeke's talent onstage in our Mainstage production of The Crucible, or mos...
05/08/2026

๐ŸŒŸ Spotlight: Zeke Valade ๐ŸŒŸ

You may have caught Zeke's talent onstage in our Mainstage production of The Crucible, or most recently in Doomsday Theatre Co.'s Once More, With Feeling!

๐Ÿ’š What's an important lesson you've learned during your time here?

"Take your time, and don't give in. Rushing to create opportunities for yourself will put you in the right place at the wrong time. So rest up and get ready for the opportunity to come to you. Wait for it."

๐Ÿ’š What's a fond memory you have of your time at VCU?

"The entire creation process of 'Once More, With Feeling.' My last show at VCU was one I'll never forget. I was given an opportunity as an actor that I had never before gotten, and that was a chance to truly be myself. Through this musical, I found the role I was given fit my personality and essence more perfectly than most shows I've done. The Buffy Musical was a brilliant exercise in exploring my acting essence that I am better off for having done."

๐Ÿ’š Tell us about your mentor(s)/professor(s) and how they supported or challenged you!

"Every professor had a valuable lesson for me to take from. EB gave me my first pearl of wisdom that changed me here at VCU: 'If it's not a 'Hell yes,' it's a 'Hell no.'' The all-in philosophy was a push I needed as a freshman that challenged my way of viewing my pursuit of the arts. DT challenged me to be myself in scenes and to not put too much sauce on my performances. To 'be Zekey-Poo' was a note that made me kinder. To 'be a king' was a note that made me use that softness to be stronger. Karen Kopryanski and Dr. T were two professors who showed me how to accept and channel parts of me that I resisted, allowing me to more effectively BE 'Zekey-Poo.' Through spiritual practices, meditation, and freeing my voice and body (thank you Nicole Cowans and Dr. Tippi Hart), I am more myself than I have ever been. Getting to know and find myself has been a transformative journey, and I can't wait to see where it takes me next, because as Dr. T said, we are ALWAYS becoming."

๐Ÿ’š What's next for you?

"I'm sticking around RVA to explore the stages around Richmond and all around Virginia. I'll be reading the books I've acquired from all my classes (buy the recommended readings, people!) to continue my education, as well as attending workshops and reflecting on my journey as an artist as I continue to evolve."

๐Ÿ’š Zeke's heart, presence, and dedication to his craft have meant so much to our community. We are so proud of you and can't wait to cheer you on as you continue becoming - on Richmond stages and beyond!

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922 Park Avenue
Richmond, VA
23284

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