Mission
The mission of Cadence Theatre Company (CTC) is to inspire and transform our community by presenting contemporary, award-winning plays and musicals that uplift the spirit, challenge the mind, and honor both our individuality and our shared humanity.
In pursuing its mission with a commitment to artistic excellence, CTC in partnership with Virginia Repertory Theatre (Virginia Rep), presents a three-show season that celebrates the world’s most renowned playwrights, composers, and lyricists. CTC is further dedicated to accomplishing its mission by offering a variety of original educational programs and activities that foster inclusion, empathy, and critical dialog across age, gender, and cultural ancestry.
History
Cadence Theatre Company was founded in November, 2009 by Anna Johnson. Its highly acclaimed inaugural production of Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love was staged in rented space at The Firehouse Theatre Project. In the years following, CTC shared Tom Jones’ and Harvey Schmidt’s The Fantasticks and David Mamet’s Oleanna at Richmond Triangle Players and Godspell by John-Michael Tebelak and Stephen Schwartz at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Goochland, VA.
As an emerging company guided by accomplished artistic leadership and the support of Richmond’s theatrical community, members from CTC met in early 2011 with leadership from Virginia Rep (formerly Barksdale Theatre) to discuss the mutual benefit of a long-term collaboration. After months of planning, CTC was pleased to announce that they had taken a big step forward, securing a partner and a permanent home. This alliance enables CTC to uphold and strengthen live theatre as a vital art form, build future audiences for all theatres in Richmond, and create safe spaces for critical dialogue across communities.
Since its formation, CTC has produced eight main stage shows and has offered three highly successful summer camp programs for children and youth. Six out of eight productions have been nominated for 22 awards by the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle (RTCC).
In 2012, CTC in partnership with Virginia Rep was nominated for an unprecedented 16 RTCC awards, including two in the category of Best Play. Early that season the company presented the Pulitzer Prize-winning August: Osage County by Tracy Letts. According to the Virginia Commission for the Arts (which awarded Cadence Theatre Company an Emerging Arts Organization grant for 2012-2013), “It is rare to see a company spring out of nowhere so quickly and present such high-caliber productions….August: Osage County was one of the finest pieces of theatre seen in Richmond this year.” August: Osage County was given RTCC’s award for Best Play in 2012.
Upcoming 2013 productions include Stephen Karam’s Sons of the Prophet (2012 Pulitzer Prize Finalist and Lucille Lortel Award winner for Best Play) which will be offered in association with the city-wide Acts of Faith Festival. This will be followed by the hit musical, Next to Normal by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt (Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2009 Tony Award for Best Original Score). CTC will collaborate with consultants from NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Psychiatry for this production.
CTC, in on-going partnership with SPARC (School of Performing Arts in the Richmond Community), offers a two-week August Adventure theatre arts camp for children of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Enrollment for August Adventure has skyrocketed from 44 participants in 2010 to 176 in 2012. Thanks to overwhelming demand, leaders from both organizations will be expanding their programs in 2013. This year, campers age 4 – 13 will bring Roald Dahl’s words to life in Willy Wonka Kids and present an exhilarating adaptation of the hit movie, Fame.
In addition to CTC’s three-show season and summer camp, 2013 programming will include The 4th Wall Student Forum for older youth who wish to support the theatre arts, Internships geared toward providing professional experience, and a series of engaging Classes and Workshops for Adults.
