EAST SIDE VENUE

08/19/2026

Nat Turner's coming to.East Side Venue during the VPF 250 PROJECT.

See what happened when Nat Turner went.to New York in 2024 and 2025.

Listen to the podcast, Curt Stewart wanted to use Nat Turner's story and his struggles in this life, to start a movement that showed the sanctity of life,.all life.

Curt planned to.begin that movement this year. Curt passed February 16, 2026.We hope our presentation of the latest ileration of his story which has the women in Nat's life coming together to discover and reveal the truth - that all life is sacred and no man, woman or child should be considered a piece of property.

Stay tuned.

https://www.wbgo.org/podcast/art-of-the-story/2025-11-20/the-powerful-play-nat-turners-last-struggle-finding-his-way-home-is-back-at-riverside-theater?fbclid=IwdGRjcATx3HhjbGNrBPHcaXBkb2YFZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEec2i9bflRTM1LEZwD0sHPKnTZFmWSmJeECSZYRWFKeauzDDYswQJTWlxf6wc_aem_o1LQEofOp6BbPk8CqiaAvQ

On this episode of The Art of the Story, producer-director Curt Stewart talks about a a rerun of his new play about the life of Nat Turner

08/03/2026

We’re celebrating our summer interns this week in honor of which was Thursday! Meet Dishawn Powell, a Transforming the Future of Libraries & Archives intern working with maps in the Library's Special Collections department. Powell is currently studying history at Virginia Commonwealth University.

"While at the Library I’ve been able to really fine tune my research skills. The thing I’ve found the most interesting was learning to use new software such as ArcGIS PRO and QGIS."

The Transforming the Future of Libraries & Archives Summer Internships program offers college students experience in the library, archives and public history fields and aims to inspire consideration of careers in these areas. The program is made possible by the generosity of donors to the Library of Virginia Foundation. Learn more at https://www.lva.virginia.gov/about/careers/internships

08/03/2026

The piliasters arrived and we're getting them ready to add some classical style while they define our stage.

07/31/2026

07/25/2026

🎭 Meet the Cast of THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF AMERICA (abridged) 🇺🇸✨

A performer, educator, and theatre-maker, Bridget Wolf has spent her career bringing stories to life—and now she's helping tell 600 years of American history in just 90 hilarious minutes!

💬 If you could steal one line from the show to use in everyday life, what would it be?

"I am a moron with a dream... and that, my friends, makes me the most dangerous kind of moron!" 😂

🤣 What's made you laugh the most during rehearsals?

"The Radio Show. I get to play with props... all the props!" 🎙️🎩

🎭 Describe this show in three words.

Silly. Random. Nostalgic.

Bridget has worked in theatre since she was just 12 years old, performing and directing across the country while also teaching improvisation in Belgium. Before joining the faculty at William & Mary, she brought history to life for thousands of guests at Colonial Williamsburg, creating unforgettable characters inspired by remarkable women from America's past.

This summer, Bridget has worn two hats—serving as both Production Manager and a performer in The Complete History of America (abridged)—making it a fun, fast-paced, and incredibly creative summer!

Come see Bridget and the cast race through American history with outrageous costumes, unforgettable characters, and nonstop laughs!

📍 William & Mary Arts Quarter
🎭 Lab Theatre – Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall

📅 July 30 – August 2
🕢 Thursday–Saturday at 7:30 PM
🕑 Sunday at 2:00 PM

🎟️ TIX: https://wm.universitytickets.com/w/default.aspx?cid=190

07/24/2026

We're pleased to announce the return of
Virginia Playwrights Forum (VPF) to the Valley. Before the pandemic the VPF brought 3 new plays to the Wayne Theatre. This time the VPF, which now has a new homebase at East Side Venue (ESV), will be bringing to that stage their
VPF 250 PROJECT that has 8 new historical based stage plays that will be presented as Readers Theatre beginning in September 2026.

Up first is P. A. Wray's,
The Concise Telling of Nat Turner's Story
Mid Sept at ESV

Stay tuned to this page for more info.