HATTheatre

Posted by Kay Goldsby - May 19 2016

1124 Westbriar Dr. Richmond, VA. 23238
BOX OFFICE & General info. 804-343-6364 (24 hr.)

So where does our name come from you may ask? It is not an acronym, but a nod to the many hats often worn by those who help bring a show from the page to the stage.

  Who we are
* Founded in 1993, HATTheatre is a not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) production company.
* Our goal is to offer Richmond audiences high quality theatre, featuring the area's most talented & dedicated artists.
* Our venue is an intimate 70 seat black-box theatre.
* We also offer an extensive array of classes for all ages from 5 to adult in our education series.

For classes our tuition costs are some of the lowest in the area, believing these types of classes can benefit many by bringing a positive force to the community.

 Adult Classes: http://www.hattheatre.org/adult-classes.html

Youth Classes: http://www.hattheatre.org/youth-classes.html

After School Enrichment Classes for ages 5 to 18

For the shy or the outgoing, for those interested in learning performance skills or those who wish to become better public speakers, our classes provide a fun way to develop all the skills you need to be successful at both. Click on "education" on our menu for details on what is covered in the classes, our calendar, and more. For 24 years we have been the only professional theatre in RVA offering classes year-round for all ages.
Join us for fun, non-competitive,  performing arts classes where the tools we give you can be used however you wish. Whether auditioning for shows  professionally or for school and church, or using your new found confidence to speak up with more assurance in public speaking situations, we have you covered.
Call 343-6364 to reserve a space or email info@hattheatre.org

 What we do

We bring eclectic shows with broad-based appeal to our audiences and are dedicated to offering fair and reasonable ticket prices in order to be as accessible as possible to all who enjoy live, professional theatre.

The details
*Conveniently located in the Far West End off of Patterson Avenue, our store-front theatre features an intimate black box, raked seating, a small lobby, and additional studio space for classes and rehearsals. Our venue is near Rt. 288 helping us to be accessible to all parts of Central Virginia. 
* HATTheatre plays host to one of the finest improv. comedy troupes in the area, West End Comedy, who brings its all audiences show (Friday) and the more mature show (Saturday), to the stage one weekend each month.
* The theatre is also available for rent by those needing performance, class, showcase, or lecture space.  
* Producing only Richmond premieres since its inception, some past productions include:

Adult Series....                                                            Family/Youth Series....

The Whale                                                               Absolutely!
The Quality of Life                                                   The Baker Street Irregulars
Over the Tavern                                                       Groovy!
Holiday Mix!                                                             Christmas Eve Chaos
Bedraggled                                                              The Dream Makers
Artistic Inspirations                                                   Robyn Hood, outlaw princess
Jewtopia                                                                   Home for Christmas
Awaken the Spirit                                                     Thursday's Child
100 Years of Broadway                                            The Atomic Brain
Staged Reality                                                          Oz
Why Do Fools Fall in Love?                                     Rock Toyz
Fourplay                                                                   Making Spirits Bright
A Candle on the Table                                             Short & Sweet
I Remain J Austen                                                   Cotton Girls
Disco! Disco!                                                            Cheaper by the Dozen
Dust on the Road                                                     How to Eat Like a Child                
Emotional Baggage                                                 An Implausible Claus
Wanda's Visit                                                           Lucky to Be Me

website: www.hattheatre.org

email: info@hattheatre.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HATTheatre~
 

The Black-Box Players

The Black-Box Players is a profit-share, resident company of professional actors.
Their first production was an evening of four one act comedies (hence the title, "Fourplay") which played over two nights to full houses. In 2012, their evening of one acts, "Artistic Inspirations" also played to full houses, and the show was deemed by several audience members as being "subversive and quirky", and, one patron noted, "if this was in NY's Greenwich Village, the seats would be filled every night." We then moved on to several holiday offerings complete with desserts and coffees, which were enjoyed by all.

A black box theatre is an intimate space that connects the actors and the audience in a way larger venues often can't. 
The focus is on the stories being told and the characters being brought to life instead of the technical elements. In the 60's and 70's when the black box came into vogue, it was often called "the actor's theatre" because the performances themselves took center stage when using limited sets and lighting effects. The Black-Box Players was created with that in mind and will bring to the stage works a bit different than our usual fare... an opportunity to actually work
"outside of the box".

The HATTBox Players

Performing two Richmond premieres a year as part of the theatre's  family series
of shows, this resident troupe of youth actors ages 8-18, have the opportunity to work on shows that are new and fresh, with scripts that challenge & explore many themes. We hold open auditions each year to fill spaces in the troupe.  Quite a few of our patrons have commented on the fact they do not feel like they are watching young people during these shows. Instead their biggest compliment to the actors is that they are so engaged with the characters and the story, they just want to see what will happen next. Past productions include several U.S premieres as well as the usual Richmond premieres.