5th Wall Theatre

Founded by Carol Piersol and Billy Christopher Maupin in 2013, 5th Wall’s mission is to create theater that provides insight into the human condition. 

This summer, after serving as 5th Wall’s creative producer and co-starring in the company’s production of “Radiant Vermin,” Kaitlin Paige Longoria was named 5th Wall’s new artistic director. In October, Longoria will direct Michelle Kholos Brooks’ “H*tler’s Tasters,” a play about a group of German women who were conscripted to taste Hitler’s food to ensure it wasn’t poisoned.

Longoria, who was previously cast in the first New York staging of the play and served as a producer on the show, compares the dark comedy to “‘Mean Girls’ meets the Third Reich” as its characters navigate patriotism, friendship, sexuality and poison.

 “Hitler’s Tasters” plays Oct. 17-Nov. 2 at Theatre Gym, 114 W. Broad St. For more information, visit 5thwalltheatre.org.

Cadence Theatre Company

Founded in 2009 by Anna Senechal Johnson, Cadence often stages local productions of Pulitzer-winning plays. Cadence also has connections to Pulitzer-and-Tony-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire and bestselling novelist and screenwriter Clay McLeod Chapman.

This fall, Cadence will stage Sam Shepard’s “True West,” a play about a sibling rivalry between two estranged brothers as they clash over a film script they’re writing. Touching on themes of ambition, family and the spirit of the American West, the play was a Pulitzer finalist. Directed by Rusty Wilson, “True West” will star local actors Landon Nagel and Stevie Rice. The actors will alternate playing the brothers.

“True West” plays Sept. 20-Oct. 5 at the Firehouse Theatre, 1609 W. Broad St. For more information, visit cadencetheatre.org.

Chamberlayne Actors Theatre

Started as part of a neighborhood association six decades ago, Chamberlayne Actors Theatre made headlines in July when it announced a new residency at Virginia Rep’s Hanover Tavern for its 2024-25 season. Originally a community theater group that transitioned into a professional company, CAT was forced to leave its longtime home on Wilkinson Road during the pandemic; last season’s shows were staged in three different locations.

With a new lease on life, CAT is readying Tina Howe’s “Painting Churches,” a play about a relationship between an artist daughter and her aging parents. Kerrigan Sullivan will direct the Pulitzer finalist as the inaugural show of CAT’s 60th season.

“Painting Churches” plays Oct. 4-19 at Hanover Tavern, 3181 Hanover Courthouse Road, Route 301, Hanover. For more information, visit onthestage.tickets/chamberlayne-actors-theatre.

Firehouse Theatre

Last year, the Firehouse couldn’t stay out of the news. First, it was announced that Firehouse was merging with the New Theatre, and the latter’s artistic director, Nathaniel Shaw, would take over as the Firehouse’s producing artistic director from the retiring Joel Bassin.

Then Carol Piersol, the Firehouse’s co-founder and longtime leader, died that May, two years after receiving a brain cancer diagnosis. Last September, dozens gathered at the Firehouse to rename the stage in Piersol’s honor.

At least for the moment, things appear to have calmed down for the theater company that still makes its home in the city’s former Fire Station #10 on Broad Street.

This November will see the Firehouse stage “Water by the Spoonful,” a Pulitzer-winning drama by Quiara Alegría Hudes. Directed by Katrinah Carol Lewis, the play is set in both the virtual and physical worlds of Philadelphia, Japan and Puerto Rico, and explores the power of family and friendship against the widening chasms of our fractured society.

“Water by the Spoonful” will play Nov. 6-24 at the Firehouse Theatre, 1609 W. Broad St. For more information, visit firehousetheatre.org.

Virginia Repertory Theatre

In July, Virginia Rep, the biggest theater company in the region, announced the hiring of a new managing director and other significant staff changes. According to a press release, new hire Klaus Peter Schuller has “more than 20 years of experience managing the operations of complex, multi-venue and multi-disciplinary organizations.”

 At the same time, Rick Hammerly, formerly Virginia Rep’s artistic director of programming, was named sole artistic director. Desirée Roots’ position of artistic director for community was dissolved and Todd Norris, the company’s artistic director for education, now reports to Hammerly. 

When this issue publishes in September, William Goldman’s stage adaptation of Stephen King’s “Misery” will be underway at the November Theatre. Just like the novel, “Misery” concerns a famous novelist unable to walk after a car crash. He’s rescued by his self-proclaimed “No. 1 fan,” but quickly realizes that he is her prisoner and must find a way to escape. 

In November, the musical adaptation of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” will take the stage at the November Theatre. With music by Marc Shaiman and lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman, this adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic tells the familiar tale of a group of children who tour Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory. The original production in the West End broke the record for weekly ticket sales in London and ran for three years and seven months.

December will see “Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty” go up at Hanover Tavern. In this comedic adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective, Dr. Watson and American actress Irene Adler must join forces to take on the criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty. 

“Misery” runs Aug. 29 to Sept. 29 at the November Theatre, 114 W. Broad St.

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” runs Nov. 28 to Jan. 5, also at the November.

“Ken Ludwig’s Moriarty” runs Dec. 13 to Jan. 19 at Hanover Tavern, 3181 Hanover Courthouse Road, Route 301, Hanover.

For more information, visit va-rep.org.

Richmond Shakespeare

Tracing its roots back to Encore Theatre in 1985, Richmond Shakespeare has undergone name changes and mergers, but remains dedicated text-focused works. Each summer, the company stages the Richmond Shakespeare Festival outdoors at Agecroft Hall.

In October, the company will mount an adaptation of William Golding’s novel “Lord of the Flies.” Directed by Jeffrey Cole, the show dives headfirst into a war-torn world where a group of boys have been marooned on a tropical island and must survive both the jungle and each other as they slowly descend into chaos. The show will mostly star actual middle- and high-school-aged boys.

“Lord of the Flies” runs Oct. 17-Nov. 10 at Dominion Energy Center, 600 E. Grace St. For more information, visit richmondshakespeare.org.

Richmond Triangle Players

From its founding in 1993 in an afterhours speakeasy to its current status as a stalwart of the local theater scene with its own theater in Scott’s Addition, Richmond Triangle Players has come a long way. 

This September, Triangle will remount “5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche,” Evan Linder and Andrew Hobgood’s wacky sendup of post-war paranoia. The show takes place in 1956 during the annual quiche breakfast of the Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein. When communists threaten their lives, hijinks ensue.

Triangle will double-down with its next fall offering, “A Campy Christmas.” First comes Darrin Hagan’s one-act “With Bells On,” the story of a mild-mannered accountant who ends up stuck in an elevator with a “7-foot Glamazon” who has created “the Ultimate Christmas Queen Pageant Outfit.” After an intermission, Triangle will stage Matthew Lombardo’s one-act “Who’s Holiday!” a raunchy sendup of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” featuring an adult Cindy Lou Who. The latter was so popular when it was staged back in 2018 that Triangle decided to remount it, again starring Kimberly Jones-Clark.

“5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche,” runs Sept. 11-Oct. 5.

“A Campy Christmas” runs Nov. 13-Dec. 22.

Richmond Triangle Players is located at 1300 Altamont Ave. For more information, visit rtriangle.org.

Swift Creek Mill Theatre

Swift Creek Mill Theatre, the theater company founded in 1965 in a 17th-century grist mill, will stage two shows this fall. “John and Jen,” a musical by Andrew Lippa and Tom Greenwald about familial relationships, is up first. The two-hander concerns the relationship between a brother and a sister and a woman and her son.

Next comes “Honky Tonk Angels,” a musical about three women who set out for Nashville in hopes of making it big time. The show includes 30 classic country tunes, including “Stand by Your Man,” “9 to 5” and “Harper Valley PTA.”

“John and Jen” runs Sept. 7-28. 

“Honky Tonk Angels” runs Nov. 16-Dec. 28.

Swift Creek Mill Theatre is located at 17401 Route 1, Chesterfield, 23834. For more information, visit swiftcreekmill.com