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Virginia Samford Theatre

The year is 1927. The new Romanesque playhouse nestled in the charming Highland Avenue community is bustling with excited patrons who have just enjoyed George Bernard Shaw’s play Candida. They spill out into the courtyard adjoining the theatre to walk to their homes nearby or enjoy the lovely park adjacent to the building. Guests agree the new theatre is going to provide an outlet for expression -- for community theatre -- for decades. Years pass and the same building is no longer new. Equipment has deteriorated, furnishings have worn and systems have become outdated. Local actors, stagehands and seamstresses have come and gone. Some performers have even achieved celebrity, or indeed stardom, after getting their first taste of performing on stage at the Birmingham Little Theatre. Formerly named the Clark Memorial Theatre and home to the UAB Town and Gown players, the beloved playhouse came alive again in 2002 through a $3 million renovation led by a dedicated group of volunteers and contributors.

Now 80 years after hosting its first performance, the Little Theatre is still serving the arts community. The theatre is still charming, still Romanesque, still parkside and filled once again with enthusiastic participants and patrons. It was given a new name in honor of its generous donor, Virginia Samford Donovan, who provided funds to save this community treasure.

In August 2006, the Martha Moore Sykes Studio was added to the theatre to provide a black box space, rehearsal room and additional reception area. The multi-use facility currently hosts four theatre companies including Red Mountain Theatre Company, CenterStage, Magic City Actors Theatre and Norton Dill Productions, as well as numerous dance, music and private events. The theatre also produces events as Virginia Samford Theatre Productions.

• At-a-
  Glance

  • Contact Info

    Virginia Samford Theatre

    1116 26th Street South
    Birmingham, AL 35205

    Phone: (205) 251-1228   |   Email   |   Official Website

  • Current Events

    There are no current events available for this organization at this time.

  • Upcoming Events

    05/20/12

    Pierre Bensusan Virginia Samford Theatre Pierre Bensusan Presented by Virginia Samford Theatre at Virginia Samford Theatre May 20, 2012 Described by the L.A. Times as "one of the most unique and brilliant acoustic guitar veterans in the world music scene today", Pierre Bensusan was voted "Best World Music Guitar Player in 2008" by Guitar Player Magazine Readers Choice. His name became synonymous with contemporary acoutsic guitar genius, long before the terms New Age, New Acoustic Music or World Music were invented. He has the ability to make a single guitar sound like an entire band as he brings the...

• Current &
  Upcoming Events

  • Current Events

    There are no current events available for this organization at this time.

  • Upcoming Events

    05/20/12

    Pierre Bensusan Virginia Samford Theatre Pierre Bensusan Presented by Virginia Samford Theatre at Virginia Samford Theatre May 20, 2012 Described by the L.A. Times as "one of the most unique and brilliant acoustic guitar veterans in the world music scene today", Pierre Bensusan was voted "Best World Music Guitar Player in 2008" by Guitar Player Magazine Readers Choice. His name became synonymous with contemporary acoutsic guitar genius, long before the terms New Age, New Acoustic Music or World Music were invented. He has the ability to make a single guitar sound like an entire band as he brings the...

• Past
  Events

  • Past Events

    05/11/12- 05/12/12	Band Geeks Virginia Samford Theatre
    04/20/12- 04/29/12	PIANOMEN Virginia Samford Theatre
    02/24/12- 02/26/12	CATS Virginia Samford Theatre
    02/24/12- 02/26/12	CATS Virginia Samford Theatre
    02/10/12- 02/11/12	From Broadway With Love Virginia Samford Theatre
    01/19/12- 01/29/12	The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Virginia Samford Theatre
    12/08/11- 12/18/11	Have Yourself A Merry Little Holiday Cabaret Virginia Samford Theatre
    11/03/11- 11/13/11	Jerry's Girls Virginia Samford Theatre
    10/27/11- 10/29/11	Shakespeare & Beyond Virginia Samford Theatre
    10/27/11- 10/29/11	Dream On of Bloody Deeds - Shakespeare & Beyond Virginia Samford Theatre
    10/07/11- 10/08/11	ALL ABOARD! Travels in Improv Comedy Virginia Samford Theatre
    09/23/11- 09/24/11	Script-Tease: Improv Comedy Virginia Samford Theatre
    09/08/11- 09/11/11	Confessions of a Glamorous Mind Virginia Samford Theatre
    08/20/11	VST Casino Cabaret Virginia Samford Theatre
    02/18/11- 02/27/11	Children of Eden Virginia Samford Theatre
    02/17/11- 03/06/11	The World Goes 'Round Virginia Samford Theatre
    02/03/11- 02/05/11	Benjamin Middaugh presents Funny Stuff: An Evening of Comedy in Song Virginia Samford Theatre
    01/20/11- 01/30/11	Always…Patsy Cline Virginia Samford Theatre
    12/02/10- 12/18/10	Holiday Cabaret featuring Wits Other End 2010 Virginia Samford Theatre
    11/20/10	An Evening with Fannie Flagg Virginia Samford Theatre
    11/04/10- 11/14/10	Dane Peterson Theatre Series presents The Last Five Years Virginia Samford Theatre

• Media
  Reviews

  • Media Reviews

    • Event Name:
      Article: Virginia Samford Theatre in Birmingham plans five-show season
      The Birmingham News - Apr 29, 2012
      By Alec Harvey

      Some classic musicals and dramas — along with the Alabama premiere of a more recent show — highlight the 2012-2013 season at the Virginia Samford Theatre. A five-show subscription season of shows presented by the VST is a new direction the theater i… Expand

      Some classic musicals and dramas — along with the Alabama premiere of a more recent show — highlight the 2012-2013 season at the Virginia Samford Theatre. A five-show subscription season of shows presented by the VST is a new direction the theater is going in as it enters its 10th year. In the past, VST has leased its facilities to a number of different groups, producing its own shows (“South Pacific,” “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and others) sporadically — and successfully. Collapse

    • Event Name: Jerry's Girls
      Article: "Jerry's Girls" features great songs sung well at Virginia Samford Theatre
      The Birmingham News - Nov 03, 2011
      By Alec Harvey

      There’s not a lot to dislike about “Jerry’s Girls,” the new musical revue that opened Thursday night at the Virginia Samford Theatre. There are two tap-dancing numbers, which are about two too many. And a preview performance had some sound glitches t… Expand

      There’s not a lot to dislike about “Jerry’s Girls,” the new musical revue that opened Thursday night at the Virginia Samford Theatre. There are two tap-dancing numbers, which are about two too many. And a preview performance had some sound glitches that most probably have been taken care of by now. Collapse

    • Event Name: The World Goes 'Round
      Article: 'World Goes 'Round' a night of songs sung well
      The Birmingham News - Mar 02, 2011
      By Alec Harvey

      All of it is brought together by sure direction from Jack Mann, who knows this material backward and forward, music director Debbie Mielke and Joe Cooley on percussion.
      “The World Goes ‘Round” is nothing but a night of songs. But when they’re g… Expand

      All of it is brought together by sure direction from Jack Mann, who knows this material backward and forward, music director Debbie Mielke and Joe Cooley on percussion.
      “The World Goes ‘Round” is nothing but a night of songs. But when they’re great songs sung by great singers, you can’t beat that. Collapse