40th Street Stage | Norfolk, Virginia

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This winner of the 2002 Tony for Best Play is a 'darkly, darkly funny' commentary on America, post 9-11 and the limits of love and tolerance. Martin is an architect at the top of his game, having the best week of his life. He's got it all - the perfect marriage, a great kid, a world class career with the respect of his peers....but, he's about to bring it all down, in this play which veers from 'unrelenting comedy' to deepest, darkest tragedy.

Directed by Kent Collins, with Bruce Hanson as Martin, Bob Nelson, Adam Pivirotto and Frankie Little Hardin.

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In SOAR, Lindsey Carey shares one woman's triumphant journey, working through various artistic mediums and genres to tell a very personal, revealing, and ultimately transformational story. Shakespeare in My Room was created by Diane Kondrat, one of the finest actresses to ever grace our stages. Now living and working as an Equity actress in Indiana, she returned to Hampton Roads for two weeks only in this witty and multifaceted work, featuring some of the best of Shakespeare's works. But more than that, it's the personal story of what it means to devote yourself to a life in theatre, with all the challenges, sorrows and joys attendant. Also featured: Mike Burnette and Amber Wood.

A lesbian couple challenges gay marriage restrictions in the Supreme Court. They expected a fight, but what they got, they never saw coming. A production of CHAOS theatre company, directed by Christopher Bernhardt, with C J Vogt as David, Denise Hughes as Sarah, Holly Elliott as Jen, LaToya Morris as Renata and Cliff Hoffman as Jeremiah. Written by Frankie Little Hardin. (read the review by Mal Vincent, under "Reviews")

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This clever new play by Hampton Roads actor and playwright John Cauthen deconstructs Shakespeare's "Scottish Play" - telling the story from the point of view of the lesser characters - including Ross and Lennox, the Doctor, MacDuff and his missus, and a couple of corpses. Directed in her directorial debut by Dani Lester, with Cami Walton, Noelle Catimbang, C. J. Vogt, Rebecca Wylie, Dan Doughtery and Rick Willard.

From the creative team that brought to life last year's Bat Boy: The Musical comes this new adaptation of the classic silent film from 1929, considered to be the first horror movie......This stylish visual treat featured both live action and filmed sequences, seamlessly integrated into a carnival freakshow of human desire and longing - a mystery, a love story, or ........just a dream? Adapted, directed and designed by Philip Odango; Sound and Lighting by Ben Fuglaar; Original music by Matti Paalanen & Teemu Vehkala; Costume Design by Debi McGill; Hair & Makeup by Grace Swiney; Produced by Donna Dickerson; Bill Armstrong, Assistant Director. Cast: Bill Armstrong, Logan Bennett, Ricky D'Alonzo, Donna Dickerson, Phil Duffy, Edith Fields, Ben Fuglaar, Alex Gaver, Alec Gillam, Claudia Hennock, Ashley Christopher Leach, Debi McGill, Lisa Munson, Aliki Marie Pantos, Teddy Powers, Anna Sosa, Christie Whiting.

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A scathing comedy by the American master, Christopher Durang....All Betty wants is a quiet little vacation by the Beach...what she gets is her neurotic girlfriend, the girlfriend's self-obessed mother, a serial killer, a macho sex addict, a derelict and a live in Laughtrack. It's Durang's sharp and pointed commentary on American culture's obsession with scandal and celebrity. First production of The CHAOS Theatre Company; directed by Chris Bernhardt and Denise Hughes, with Bill Armstrong, Tennille Cyphers, Kathy Hinson, Dave Hobbs, Seth Hewitt, Cliff Hoffman, Adam Pivirotto, Tara Scott and Dani Lester, as Betty.

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Terrance Afer-Anderson wrote and stars in this 'spiritual thriller'....A convicted serial killer, Lee Jean, meets with the psychiatrist who will recommend life or death at his sentencing hearing. But it is soon revealed that Lee has MPD - multiple personality disorder - and the audience is taken on a emotional rollercoaster ride as eight different people are revealed - only one of which is the cold blooded killer nicknamed "The Tribesman". Directed by Rodney Suitor, with Terrance Afer-Anderson, Rodney Suitor and Mark Rawlison. (See the "Reviews" page under Snake Eyes)

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Back from their triumphant appearance at the Charleston International Comedy Festival, where people actually applauded for their fourth summer run, the sketch comedy group that dares to go where nobody else does..... Tasteless humor, delivered badly, hysterically funny. There's Live music and a grill on the courtyard, before the insanity moves inside for stand-up, improv and original Sketch comedy.

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John Clancy's brutal comedy - A war crimes tribunal as run by the Marx Brothers - about one man and his appetite for absolutely everything. Directed by Frankie Little Hardin, with Amber Heckler as Fudgie, Chris Bernhardt, Bill Armstrong, Eileen P. Quinton and Brad McMurran as Fat Boy.

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Amy Ingram's brave and provocative one woman show: One woman, two ropes, One ladder........Many channels.

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This new play by Frankie Little Hardin examines the private life of Frederick Douglass and his relationships with three women: His first wife, Anna Murray Douglass, the freedwoman who helped him to escape slavery; His longtime mistress, the German journalist Ottilie Assing; and his daughter, Rosetta. (See The Greater Love under "Reviews" page) Directed by LaToya Morris, with Beth Piviorotto, Joy White, LaToya Morris and Terrance Afer-Anderson as Douglass.

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Stories, poems and songs about the journey of love....With Eileen P. Quinton, D.D. Delaney, Matt Crowley, Amber Wood, James Cooper, Coley Mustafa Speaks, Lauren Dabney, Jeff Hewitt; Conceived and Directed by Robert P. Arthur

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The triumphant return of the original musical hit that premiered at 40th Street Stage in June 2007, when one critic hailed it as "maybe the most important theatrical event in Hampton Roads this season" (see PetSounds, on the "Reviews" page)

Guest artist Fenton Wilkinson brings the famed economic theorist to back to life in this entertaining and informative one man show, written by historian Howard Zinn. Marx has been granted one hour to come back to earth from heaven - where he's been trading ideas with Gandhi, Buddha, Jesus and Mark Twain - to defend his life and work. Sent to bohemian Soho, New York by mistake, he soldiers on, extorting the audience, saying, "I am NOT A MARXIST!"

This mainstage production by the Children's Theatre of Hampton Roads was a return of a beloved fairytale show. Originally produced at 40th Street Stage in December of 2005, this classic love story is a Norse variation of Beauty and the Beast. When the Youngest Daughter breaks her solemn promise, she must set out on an epic journey to redeem her faith, find the prince and prove that love conquers all fears. With Kathleen Moore, Cami Walton, Tennille Cyphers, Jason Cyphers, Jon Norton, Dani Lester, Denise Hughes, Donald Phillips, Chris Bernhardt, Natalie Levy, Emily Levy and Shela Maung.

Hampton Road's hippest playwright/philosopher actor D.D. Delaney returns to 40th Street for the second year with his own version of the Dicken's classic. This one man show is true tour-de-force, with Delaney playing all the characters in a show that runs just under one hour. It's the essential Carol, with all the wonderful elements of our favorite Christmas tale, told simply and theatrically, with stunning clarity and evocative power.

The cult musical hit based on - yes, it's true - the popular character from -gasp- The Weekly World News; a camp comedy horror ride which delighted audiences, required plastic ponchos for the 'blood spatter zone' and was the first show in the history of 40th Street to require a Live Animal Wrangler. Gleeful and witty, sadistic and silly, Bat Boy tells the story of a half boy/half bat creature discovered in the depths of a cave in West Virginia. Brought home by the town vet - a man with a secret - Bat Boy tries desperately to fit in and even finds love, but he is thwarted by the bigoted townspeople of Hope Falls. A modern morality tale for the age of media. Produced and presented by The Foppish Dandies & Company.

A special presentation in honor of our military families. In Act I, readings of real letters to and from soldiers and their loved ones from the Civil War, World War I, II, Korean and Vietnam point to the timelessness of loss, longing and committment. In Act II, the improv comedy PlayBack Theatre takes audience stories and reenacts them. All proceeds from the evening benefited military domestic violence prevention programs.

Scary stories, haunting melodies, poetry and scenes evocative of All Hallows, performed by some of the finest performers in Hampton Roads. Scripted by Robert P. Arthur and directed by Betty Xander.

Hailed by critics here and abroad as... "a spellbinding stunner of a play..", The Pillowman was winner of the Olivier Award in London's West End for Best Play. It's thrilling - disturbing - wildly funny, in oh-so wickedly ways. Two brothers have been brought in for questioning about a series of brutal murders - murders that bear an uncanny resemblance to the stories that one of those brothers has written - but not published - murders of .... children. It's as fine a piece of storytelling and pure theatre as anything you'll see - see Pillowman under the "Reviews" page. Directed by Melissa Blue, with Jon Ward, Russ Staggs, Brian Wrestler, Katie Clapp, Logan Bennett, Dale Payne & Elyse Jolley.