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History of Theatre IV

Over 3 Decades of Caring and Commitment to Virginia’s Children, Families and Schools

1975  |  1980  |  1990  |  2000  |  Future

Among arts and cultural organizations, Theatre IV leads by example, demonstrating an unflagging commitment to children, families and schools throughout Virginia and the nation.  Our name comes from our mission—Theatre IV seeks national caliber excellence in four areas: the arts, education, children’s health and safety, and community leadership. 

While maintaining the highest artistic standards, Theatre IV has become internationally recognized as an “arts for the community’s sake” company.  Over the last third century, few if any organizations have had a greater impact on life in Virginia than has Theatre IV.  Our best years are yet to come.  Please consider these highlights in an extraordinary 34-year history:

1975    Theatre IV is founded by Bruce Miller and Phil Whiteway, becoming Virginia’s first professional theatre for young audiences. One of our earliest productions, a dramatization of African-American folk tales, is selected to represent the United States at the International Children’s Festival at Wolf Trap Farm Park, and recorded for international broadcast over Voice of America.

1976    In its first full year of operation, Theatre IV presents 136 touring performances in schools, recreation centers, and various outdoor venues statewide, serving approximately 31,000 children, parents and teachers on an annual budget of $17,000.

1977    Theatre IV rents the historic Empire Theatre in downtown Richmond, launching our first main stage (non-touring) season of major productions designed to serve elementary age children and their families. Our mainstage series continues in the Empire today.

1978    Theatre IV receives the first Sara Spencer Award, presented by the Southeastern Theatre Association in recognition of “the most outstanding contribution to children’s theatre in the Southeastern United States.”

1979    In partnership with St. Catherine’s School, Theatre IV founds the Communication Skills Workshop for Hearing Impaired Students—the first training program in Virginia to use theatre professionals and activities to enhance speech instruction for hearing impaired and profoundly deaf children.

1980    Theatre IV launches its first season for high school and adult audiences, staging the Richmond professional premieres of The Diary of Anne Frank, The Philadelphia Story and A Raisin in the Sun, all presented at the Westover Theatre in Westover Hills.
           
1983    In partnership with the Virginia Department of Social Services and Prevent Child Abuse Virginia, Theatre IV creates and begins touring Hugs and Kisses, Virginia’s principal child sexual abuse prevention program.  Now in its 27th year, Hugs has been presented to over 1.36 million children in every school district statewide.  Anecdotally we’re told that nearly 14,000 Virginia children have disclosed their sexual victimization for the first time following performances of Hugs and Kisses, thereafter receiving from the VA DSS the help they need.

1985    Theatre IV produces Do Lord Remember Me based on the oral histories of former slaves interviewed during the Federal Writer’s Project, and receives the Award of Excellence from Branches of the Arts for “The most outstanding play relating to African-American experience.”

In partnership with the National Network of Runaway and Youth Services and the Virginia
Department of Juvenile Justice, Theatre IV creates and begins touring Runners, a landmark delinquency prevention program, based on interviews with 42 runaways living in Virginia’s halfway houses and emergency shelters.

1986    Theatre IV purchases and, by 1990, restores the historic Empire Theatre in downtown Richmond, the oldest extant theatre in the Commonwealth, and Virginia’s first major performance facility dedicated to children, families and schools.

Theatre IV becomes the second performing arts company in Virginia history (Barter in the 40s and 50s was the first) to launch an annual performance residency in New York City.  Now in its 25th year, Theatre IV’s annual residency is Virginia’s longest ongoing tie to our nation’s arts and entertainment capital.  Our annual week in NYC is always fully funded by New Yorkers.

1987    Presented locally and nationally with support from MADD (Mothers Against Drunk
Driving) and SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving), Walking the Line premieres as
Theatre IV’s award-winning alcohol and other drug abuse prevention program.  The play is subsequently translated into Spanish and tours Puerto Rico.

1988    Theatre IV receives the Concern for Kids Award from the Virginia Federation of Women’s Clubs, recognizing Theatre IV’s  “outstanding service to Virginia’s children.”

Theatre IV begins its Tickets for Kids policy, donating 10% of all main stage tickets and touring performances to less advantaged children, families and schools, ensuring that no one is turned away from our productions because of their inability to pay.

The nation of Israel adopts Hugs and Kisses as a model program, and Bruce Miller and Phil Whiteway visit Tel Aviv with Governor Gerald Baliles to meet with the Israel Department of Social Services and Israel’s leading professional touring theatre for young audiences.

1989    In partnership with the Medical College of Virginia (MCV), Department of Pediatric Medicine, Theatre IV creates and begins touring Dancing in the Dark, a “just say later” program that confronts the issues of adolescent pregnancy and sexual responsibility.

1990    Phil Whiteway receives the Outstanding Young Citizen of the Year Award from the Richmond Jaycees for “outstanding contributions to the Richmond community.”

Theatre IV’s James Madison and the Bill of Rights is the only arts program in the nation to be selected for funding by the U. S. Bicentennial Commission for touring to schools throughout the United States. 

1991    Theatre IV receives the Award of Distinguished Service from Handicaps Unlimited of Virginia, honoring “commitment to the principles of inclusion and service to Virginia’s disabled citizens.”

Theatre IV produces the world premiere of Four Part Harmony, a musical based on the experiences of Vietnam POWs and their wives, created by Marcus Fisk and Doug Minerd.  Nam-POWs, the national fraternal organization of former prisoners, convenes in Richmond so that 42 members can attend the Opening Night performance together.

1992    In partnership with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and the Virginia Safe Kids Coalition, Theatre IV creates and tours Better Safe Than Sally, a child safety program addressing the issues of fire, gun, electric, auto, bike, skateboard, swimming and household accident safety.

1993    Theatre IV receives the Outstanding Service Award presented by the Central Richmond Association for “exemplary civic leadership in service to downtown Richmond.”

Bruce Miller receives the Commissioner’s Award from the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, presented by Commissioner Donna Shalala, honoring his “outstanding national contribution to the field of child abuse and neglect.”

1994    Martha Gilbert is elected President of the Board of Directors of Theatre IV, marking the first time in Virginia history that an African-American is elected President of a major Virginia nonprofit arts organization (annual budget of $1,000,000 or more).  Dr. Monroe Harris and Dianne Roberts subsequently become the 2nd and 3rd leaders to achieve this, both at TIV. 

Jane Alexander, Oscar and Tony Award-winning actress and Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, joins Theatre IV’s cast of The Wizard of Oz on stage at the historic Empire Theatre, in celebration of the 10-millionth child to be served by Theatre IV.

1995    Theatre IV re-establishes the Richmond Boys Choir as a sole member subsidiary, providing funding and mentorship for three years until the choir is ready to move forward on its own.

Theatre IV is selected as the only theatre in the nation to be included in PART of the Solution – Creative Alternatives for Youth, a publication of the U. S. Dept. of Justice, the U. S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, and the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, showcasing the twelve most proactive youth arts programs in the nation.

1996    Theatre IV receives the Together for Children Award presented by Prevent Child Abuse Virginia for “exceptional contributions to the well being of Virginia’s children and families.”

Theatre IV’s production of Buffalo Soldier, written and directed by Bruce Miller, is booked into the Kennedy Center.  Subsequently it is voted one of the 12 Best American Plays for Young Audiences by the membership of ASSITEJ USA, the national organization of theatre professionals working in the TYA field.

1997    Working in partnership with Richmond Public Schools, Theatre IV is selected as the first  producing theatre in the nation to become an affiliate of the Kennedy Center’s prestigious, national arts-in-education initiative, Partners in Education.

1999    STYLE Weekly selects Bruce Miller and Phil Whiteway as two of the 100 Most Influential Richmonders of the 20th Century.

2000    The Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Cincinnati, OH partners with Theatre IV to address effectively the disproportionate number of African-American children who are killed in car accidents due to improper use of seatbelts and child safety seats.  Theatre IV creates and begins touring Give Us This Day, a dramatized sermon and prevention program for performances in African-American churches.

Theatre IV organizes and begins implementing Great Kids Virginia, a three-year Virginia Business-Education Partnership with 29 school districts statewide.  The purpose of the program is to use the theatre arts to raise student achievement in core subject areas by increasing parental involvement and supporting instruction of the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs). Over the next three years, over 1,500 performances are delivered to over 525,000 students in mostly underserved schools throughout the Commonwealth through this program.

2001    Theatre IV assumes artistic and administrative management responsibilities for Barksdale Theatre, saving Central Virginia’s first professional performing arts organization (founded in 1953) from financial dissolution.  This strategic partnership continues today, and Barksdale is now firmly established as Richmond’s leading professional theatre.

Bruce Miller becomes the first artist (and the second recipient) to be honored with the Leadership in Arts Instruction Award presented by the Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

2002    The Pentagon selects Theatre IV’s production of Buffalo Soldier, written and directed by Bruce Miller, as a morale booster after September 11th. Theatre IV becomes the first professional theatre in the nation to perform within the Pentagon walls. The performance receives a standing ovation from the packed auditorium, and is broadcast live throughout the Pentagon.

2003    During the final presentation of Richmond Times-Dispatch theatre critic Roy Proctor’s annual Phoebe Awards, Bruce Miller and Phil Whiteway win their 20th Phoebe Award in 20 years for having produced Greater Richmond’s Best Play or Best Musical of the Year.  No other producers even approach this level of critical recognition for artistic excellence.

2006    Theatre IV’s The Jamestown Story is one of only two arts programs statewide to be selected for funding by the Jamestown 2007 Commemoration Commission for touring to Virginia’s schools.

Bruce Miller and Phil Whiteway receive the Theresa Pollak Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in the Arts, becoming the first theatre practitioners to be so honored.

2007    Theatre IV wins STYLE Weekly’s Family Favorite Award, Best Theatre for Families, for each of the six years that the award is offered.          

2008    Theatre IV, Miller and Whiteway are presented with Virginia’s Governor’s Award for the Arts.

2009    Theatre IV, in partnership with Barksdale Theatre, continues to perform live before nearly 600,000 theatre lovers each year, presenting acclaimed home seasons in Richmond, and touring extensively throughout Virginia, 34 additional states plus the District of Columbia, on an annual budget of $5.3 million.

2011 Sara Belle and Neil November make a $2 million gift to
Theatre IV and Barksdale Theatre to restore the downtown, historic theatre. Media coverage.

2012 In January, the Empire Theatre is renamed the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre.



Help build the future of Theatre IV

Theatre IV has been proud to be a part of your family tradition over the past 3 decades. Together, we have watched communities expand, seen children grow, and welcomed many new additions. Every year we strive to go a little further and make a greater difference throughout the community and the nation. It takes a large family to keep that commitment strong and help Theatre IV thrive.

Donate: If you would like to contribute to Theatre IV online, please visit donate online. Donations can also be mailed to 114 West Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23220. Thank you for your support of the arts!

Information on Corporate Giving


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