Upscale theater meets small town charm

The Prizery has become a cultural hub of Southside Virginia enticing art-loving tourists.

When entering The Prizery, the building still has the look and feel of an aging tobacco warehouse with some of the crop's history — and the role it played in Halifax County — lining the walls with pictures, dates and information.

However, by just turning one corner of the hallway, guests are taken somewhere else entirely.

"You walk around the corner and you say 'Oh my gosh' and there is the theater space," said Chris Jones, The Prizery's artistic director. "People aren't expecting to see that. That is the wow factor."

The 250-seat Chastain Theatre is just part of the 38,000-square-foot building that is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places as part of the South Boston Historic Tobacco Warehouse District. The Prizery, which once served as a tobacco warehouse, is now a lively center for the arts attracting thousands of visitors from outside the area each year.

It is believed that the building was constructed in the late 1800s by RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. and it was of similar structure that it is today. The basement was used for manufacturing the 1,000 pound tobacco barrels where the tobacco was "prized" — pressed layer by layer into the hogshead barrels. The first floor was used for storage and the second floor was for pickups and drop offs and the top floor was for drying the tobacco.

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Summer Theatre Housing

Those wishing to house members of the Summer Theatre Celebration 2013 company are invited to get in contact with Winston Harrell, committee chair for Summer Theatre housing.

We are hoping to house approximately 20 theatre performers and technicians during summer theatre in multiple locations. Housing will be needed during the weeks June 2 though July 21.

Summer theatre housing in the past has included the following types of housing: cabins, spare quest bedroom, rental house, garage apartment.

No cooking, laundry or transportation is expected to be provided by those offering housing. Kitchen privileges are helpful. Let us know if you are able to help.

Winston Harrell: winstonharrell@hotmail.com or call The Prizery at 434-572-8339 if you have questions.

Summer Theatre 2013 Local Auditions

Auditions for Summer Theatre Celebration 2013 will be held on Saturday March 2 at 1:00 p.m. at The Prizery.

Young people interested in auditioning for "Oliver" should be between the ages of 8 and 18. There are also roles for high school age students in "Legally Blonde". Adult roles are available for both shows, "Oliver" and "Legally Blonde"

1. Everyone auditioning must provide a photo preferably, 8 x 10 B&W or color and a resume listing any theatre, singing or dance experience.
2. Everyone auditioning must come prepared with a memorized monologue of at least 1 minute in duration and no more than 1 minute 30 seconds.
3. Everyone auditioning must come with a prepared song. The song can be from the musical being presented or another musical theatre type song. The song must be memorized. It can be sung a' cappella or the individual auditioning can provide music for the accompanist.
4. Those wishing to audition as a dancer should arrive with appropriate dance clothing, present one musical theatre dance combination, and be prepared to dance combinations provided by the choreographer. The dance audition will concentrate on the dance style needed for "Legally Blonde."

Summer Theatre Celebration 2013 features "Oliver", "Red, White and Broadway", and "Legally Blonde"

Summer Theatre Celebration 2013 is the 4th year of The Prizery's producing top-notch professional musical theatre!

Local Auditions     Summer Theatre Housing

Summer Theatre 2012 Photo Gallery

During the summer, a company of 20 professional singers, dancers and artists will live in our community for 8 weeks as they rehearse, design, build and dazzle with three "Broadway" style musical theatre shows.

The season opens on June 20th with "Oliver", the musical theatre interpretation of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist! Great music and a great story combine to make this a family favorite.

Following "Oliver" is "Red, White and Broadway", a musical review featuring your favorite patriotic songs and great hits from the American Musical Broadway stage.

Rounding out the summer is the ever popular "Legally Blonde", winner of the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical in 2010, a story of Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend Warner. She discovers how her knowledge of the law can help others, and successfully defends exercise queen Brooke Wyndham in a murder trial. "Legally Blonde" opens on July 11 and runs through July 21.

"Oliver" - June 20, 21,22,23,26,27,28,29,30
"Red, White and Broadway" - July 4,5,6,7
"Legally Blonde" - July 11,12,13,14,17,18,19,20,21

Summer Theatre 2013 Performers