Critics’ Convo
Theater companies are focusing on familiar titles this fall, but some come with a twist.
Theater fans are buzzing about the upcoming appearance by Tony Awardwinner Brian Stokes Mitchell at Modlin Center on Sept. 12. (Photo courtesy of the artist).
Originally published by Style Weekly
by Rich Griset and David Timberline
September 11, 2025
Richmond’s theater companies kick off their new seasons in the fall and, with many of the prominent productions planned for the upcoming months, you’ll know the name even if you won’t know the specifics of the show’s story.
Style’s longtime regular theater critics, Rich Griset and David Timberline, chat about that phenomenon and other aspects of the upcoming stage season.
Dave: As local companies announced their seasons, the biggest surprise to me was Cadence Theatre tackling “Long Day’s Journey Into Night” (Sept. 26 – Oct. 11). I know this Eugene O’Neill opus is regarded as a classic but, to be honest, not only have I never seen it, I only vaguely know the plot.
As it traditionally runs well over three hours, it’s not a play many companies produce. The fact that David Lindsey-Abaire, who has a long-standing relationship with Cadence, wrote the script for the recent movie adaptation is just a coincidence. Director Rusty Wilson will be working with the original play and, given his track record, I expect this production to be a highlight of the season.
What titles on the docket stood out to you, Rich?
Rich: Sticking with David Lindsey-Abaire for a moment, Broadway in Richmond is bringing the national Broadway tour of “Kimberly Akimbo” (Nov. 4-9) to the Altria. A musical adaptation of Lindsey-Abaire’s play of the same name, the show relates the story of a teenager who has a condition that causes her to age rapidly. Balancing humor and heart, the show walked away with an armload of Tonys – including Best Musical – in 2023. I saw the original Broadway production and wouldn’t shut up about it for weeks.
Producing Artistic Director at Firehouse Theatre, Nathaniel Shaw
Firehouse is staging “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” (through Sept. 7), which I’m really excited about. Adapting 70 pages from Tolstoy’s “War and Peace,” the show is very much a musical lover’s musical. Frequenters of the Firehouse may recognize composer, lyricist and playwright Dave Malloy’s handiwork from 2018’s Rachmaninoff-focused “Preludes” and 2023’s “Ghost Quartet,” a song cycle about “love, death and whiskey.” What other shows stand out on the schedule to you?
Dave: There will be a fascinating, one-two-three punch right at the beginning of the season with Richmond Triangle Players staging Matthew Lombardo’s acclaimed new comedy “Conservations with Mother” (Sept. 10 – Oct. 4), Virginia Rep taking on “Murder on the Orient Express” (Sept. 11 – Oct. 12) and Swift Creek Mill offering “Night Must Fall” (Sept. 20 – Oct. 11).
I’m curious whether the “Orient Express” production will employ the same strategy Virginia Rep used to great effect this past season with “Dial M for Murder:” show respect for the original material but subtly insinuate a droll ironic distance.
And while “Night Must Fall” first premiered back in the 1930s, it’s a sturdy story of murder and seduction that’s been adapted into three movies over the succeeding decades.
I expect the best of Richmond’s acting community will be vying for plum roles in all three of these shows so I’ll be eagerly waiting to see who will be committing murders and solving crimes on stage in September.
Speaking of talent, theater fans are already buzzing about the solo concert Brian Stokes Mitchell will be performing at the Modlin Center on Sept. 12. Mitchell won a Tony for “Kiss Me, Kate” 25 years ago and has been a mainstay on Broadway ever since. Based on his star turn in the limited run of “Love Life” this past spring, his big, beautiful voice still has the power to bring down the house.
Bring us home, Rich — what else can stage fans be looking forward to?”
Rich: Richmond Shakespeare’s first show of the season intrigues me: “Witch” (Oct. 23-Nov. 9) by Jen Silverman. It’s a retelling of a Jacobean drama about a devil trying to seduce a woman who has been labeled a “witch” and cast out of her town. In an interesting bit of timing, the show will be opening on the heels of another witchy story, “The Crucible,” that Theatre VCU will be offering (Sept. 9 – 12). Adding these to the shows you’ve highlighted, it’s going to be a fall full of dark delights.
“Gabriel,” produced by Atlas Partnership, will be the first professional production staged by the former founders of Virginia Rep. Photo credit: Bill Sigafoos
Finally, ATLAS Partnership’s “Gabriel,” (Sept. 26-Nov. 9) is notable for a few reasons. The show is the first to be staged by ATLAS, formed by Virginia Rep founders Bruce Miller and Phil Whiteway. The latter of the famous Richmond theater duo was ousted from Virginia Rep in 2023, leading him to sue the organization; that lawsuit was settled in June 2024.
Written by local theater artists Jerold Solomon, Foster Solomon and Ron Klipp, “Gabriel” is an original musical that dramatizes Gabriel’s Rebellion, one of the most important slave uprisings in American history. The musical was first staged at Firehouse in 2022 to accolades, including winning the Best Original Work Award from the Richmond Theatre Community Circle (disclosure: Timberline is a current RTCC member and Griset is a previous RTCC member). This staging will premiere a newly revised script and score.
That’s all for now. See you in the theater!
