Richmond CenterStage facts for kids
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Carpenter Theater; Dominion Energy Center; Richmond Performing Arts Alliance;
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| Address | 600 E. Grace St. Richmond, Virginia  United States |
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| Coordinates | 37°32′28″N 77°26′10″W / 37.541°N 77.436°W |
| Owner | Carpenter Theatre: City of Richmond Dorothy Pauley Square: Richmond Performing Arts Alliance |
| Type | Proscenium Theater |
| Capacity | est. 1,800 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1928 |
| Reopened | September 12, 2009 |
| Website | |
| https://www.dominionenergycenter.com/ | |
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Loews Theatre
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | 6th and Grace Sts., Richmond, Virginia |
| Area | 1 acre (0.4 ha) |
| Built | 1928 |
| Architect | John Eberson |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Part of | Grace Street Commercial Historic District (ID98000739) |
| NRHP reference No. | 79003292 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | November 20, 1979 |
| Designated CP | July 13, 1998 |
The Dominion Energy Center is a cool place in Richmond, Virginia, where you can watch all sorts of shows! It has several different performance spaces. These include the old and beautiful Carpenter Theatre, the Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse, Bob & Sally Mooney Hall, and the Genworth BrightLights Education Center. This center was once known as Richmond CenterStage.
The Carpenter Theatre started as a Loew's Theatre movie palace. It was built by the Loew's Theatres company. A famous architect named John Eberson designed it. Construction began in 1927, and the theater opened its doors in 1928.
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Where is the Dominion Energy Center?
Many people in Richmond still call it the Carpenter Theatre Center for the Performing Arts. The main building is on the 600 block of Grace Street. This is a one-way road that goes west through Richmond.
Location in Richmond's Historic Area
The center is part of the Grace Street Commercial Historic District. It is surrounded by Broad Street to the north and Seventh Street to the east. Grace Street is to the south, and Sixth Street is to the west. It is also located in Richmond's Arts and Cultural District.
History of the Center
The Loew's Theatre Corporation hired a well-known architect from New York, John Eberson. He designed the theater with ideas from Spanish and Moorish architecture. A historian named Calder Loth said that Loew's was "the most up-to-date theater in the South" when it opened. This was on April 9, 1928.
Unique "Atmospheric Theatre" Design
John Eberson was famous for creating "atmospheric theatre" designs. In these theaters, the walls look like an elegant old village or street. Above, the ceiling looks like a night sky with stars and moving clouds. The Carpenter Theatre's design makes you feel like you are in a Spanish setting. It has a fake sky ceiling with stars and clouds that appear to move.
Renaming and New Identity
The complex was known as Richmond CenterStage for some time. In 2015, it was renamed the Dominion Energy Center. The Richmond CenterStage Foundation also changed its name. It is now called the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance.
What Happens at the Center Today?
The facility and organization used to be called the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts. In the early 2000s, it joined with the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance (RPAA). A big effort was made to raise money and support the project.
Expanding the Performing Arts Space
The City of Richmond and private groups worked together. They bought the old Thalhimers Department Store next to the Carpenter Center. This was part of a plan to create a larger performing arts center. After construction was finished, the complex was renamed Richmond CenterStage. It also grew to include the Altria Theater.
Different Venues Inside
The center now has five different performance spaces. These are in two separate locations. The Carpenter Theatre is the historic main theater. It has 1,800 seats and is named after the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation.
Dorothy Pauley Square is a newer, four-story building. It is connected to the Carpenter Theatre. This building has four venues:
- The Libby S. Gottwald Playhouse: A flexible space with 200 seats.
- Bob & Sally Mooney Hall: A space for jazz and cabaret shows.
- Showcase Gallery: An area for receptions and showing visual art.
- Genworth BrightLights Education Center: This is where RPAA's BrightLights Education Initiatives are held.
Education and Office Spaces
The third and fourth floors of Dorothy Pauley Square have office spaces. The teams from RPAA, Richmond Symphony, and Virginia Opera work there. The third floor also has the Genworth BrightLights Education Center. This space is used for classes and educational programs by RPAA and other arts groups. There is also a Digital Arts Lab. This is a modern digital media center within the Bright Lights space.
Opening and Management
CenterStage officially opened to the public on September 12, 2009. This happened after a large fundraising effort. The project was originally planned to be much bigger. The complex is managed by SMG Richmond. This is a company from Pennsylvania. A board of local leaders, chosen by the City, oversees its operations.
Resident Companies and Performances
RPAA currently works with eleven Resident Companies. These groups use the venues for their shows and educational programs. Some of these companies include:
- City of Richmond Department of Parks and Recreation
- Elegba Folklore Society
- Latin Ballet of Virginia
- Modlin Center for the Arts at the University of Richmond
- Richmond Ballet
- The Richmond Forum
- Richmond Shakespeare
- Richmond Symphony
- SPARC (School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community)
- Virginia Opera
- Virginia Repertory Theatre
The center can host smaller local shows. It can also welcome very large audiences for national touring acts.
