Lifestyle Historic Virginia Theaters for Your Entertainment 2/3/2025 | By Steve Cook Sure, “all the world’s a stage,” but some stages are especially memorable. Travel and food writer Steve Cook takes us to several historic Virginia theaters scattered throughout the state that provide entertainment in a story-filled venue. Little more than a century after William Shakespeare wrote “The play’s the thing,” his plays were being performed in Virginia’s first theater, known as the “Play House,” erected in 1716. By 1745, this historic Williamsburg theater was gone, demolished. But if plays and other live performances are still your thing, Virginia offers many still-standing historic playhouses, which have either operated continuously since they opened their doors or have been beautifully revived. Here is a sampling of such historic theaters. Six favorite historic Virginia theaters Masonic Theatre – Clifton Forge Opened in 1906 as “The Mason Hall and Opera House,” the Masonic Theatre makes a perfect starting point as the state’s oldest continuously operating theater. Not only did theater-goers enjoy some of Hollywood’s earliest Western movies here, but stars such as Gene Autry, Burl Ives, and the Count Basie Orchestra have performed live on stage. Upcoming events include everything from ballet to bluegrass. HistoricMasonicTheatre.com Barter Theatre – Abingdon It was the early ’30s, and Americans were coping with the Great Depression. Robert Porterfield, a young thespian from Southwest Virginia, enticed fellow Broadway actors to accompany him to his home state, where the performers might work for food. His concept of trading “ham for Hamlet” proved quite popular. Every seat was filled for the opening night on June 10, 1933. Most attendees had paid the 35-cent admission with vegetables, dairy products, or meat. Having undergone several renovations, the theater holds 17 full productions annually, along with special events such as writing festivals and concerts. BarterTheatre.com The Beacon Theatre – Hopewell Burlesque queen Sally Rand and cowboy star Lash Larue are just two of many famous performers to have appeared on the Beacon Theatre stage, which opened its doors in 1928. After sitting vacant and abandoned for decades, the theater was renovated in 2015 and since has featured performances by musical stars of all genres. Upcoming performances feature tribute shows to the Beatles, Johnny Cash, and Michael Jackson, as well as an evening with Micky Dolenz of The Monkees. TheBeaconVA.com Attucks Theatre – Norfolk Named in honor of Crispus Attucks, an African-American who became the first casualty of the American Revolution, Attucks Theatre has showcased such legends as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, and Redd Foxx. Built by a group of Black businessmen and designed to provide a showcase for primarily Black entertainers, the Attucks opened in 1919 and ultimately came to be known as the Apollo of the South. Today, the theater continues to present a variety of live performances. Additionally, the facility hosts weddings, lectures, and other events. Tours can also be arranged. SevenVenues.com The Barns at Wolf Trap – Vienna In 1930, Catherine Filene Shouse, whose fortune was built on Boston’s famous department store, began to acquire farmland outside of Washington D.C. to serve as her refuge from city life. In 1966, she donated 100 acres of the farm to the federal government. Congress designated the land as Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts. In 1981, Shouse relocated two 18th-century barns from upstate New York. The barns became an intimate 382-seat theater along with a dining and reception area. The stage comes alive with the sounds of music of virtually every genre from October to May. WolfTrap.org The November Theatre – Richmond Opened in December 1911, this is the city’s oldest existing theater. Its builder, Moses Hofheimer, modeled and named the venue after New York City’s famed Empire Theatre. The theater was renamed the Booker T in 1933 and featured both film and vaudeville performances. It became Richmond’s first integrated theater after Reconstruction (though Black audiences were seated separately). The building has been closed and re-opened over the years but came to life again in 1977, when Theatre IV (now Virginia Rep) took over. The facilities have since been restored and renovated – twice. Virginia Rep’s current Signature Season features productions of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Fat Ham” (a modernized and “mature” retelling of Hamlet), and “Waitress.” The theater can be rented for private events, too. Virginia Rep also hosts occasional performances at the historic Hanover Tavern, one of the oldest taverns in the U.S. The Tavern hosts other events, too, and is home to the Hanover Tavern Restaurant and Pub. Enjoy dinner before the show – or just go for dinner! VA-Rep.org All of these historic theaters have been updated for accessibility. FEATURE IMAGE, TOP: The cast of “Madame Buttermilk” at Barter Theatre in Abingdon, one of the historic Virginia theaters. Image courtesy of Barter Theatre. Read More Steve Cook Freelance writer Steve Cook brings his life experience to topics at Seniors Guide as well as his insights as a longtime writer. In addition to lifestyle topics, he brings a distinctive flavor to his favorite topics: culinary enjoyment and travel.