North Theatre
629 North Main Street,
Danville,
VA
24540
629 North Main Street,
Danville,
VA
24540
1 person
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The North Theatre is a restored facility showing classic movies and presenting all types of theatrical productions. The theatre originally opened in February of 1947 as Danville, Virginia’s finest movie and vaudeville house. Unfortunately for the owner, Mr. Leonard Lea, TV hit about the time of opening and he never had a vaudeville performance. The theatre remained open until mid-1976. After that time it was an auction house, a number of different churches, and, finally from 1990 to 2003 Carolyn’s House of Flowers.
In mid-2003 a group was formed who purchased the theatre, a former restaurant next-door, with residence on the second floor, and a third building next to the restaurant, which had been a two story residence.
The theatre building was in fairly good shape requiring modernization of power, heat and AC. All theatre items, screen, projectors, sound systems were either gone or of such an early vintage they needed to be replaced. The theatre was completely remodeled, adding two new 35mm projectors, a true digital projector, two sound systems, one surround sound for movies and a second for theatrical productions. The stage, originally 42 feet wide by 18 feet deep was enlarged to 42 feet wide by 38 feet deep. A Hofend Vortex stage rigging system was installed. The Vortex is the very latest and the very best available computer controlled stage-rigging system. Refurbished seats were installed which are wider than the original and additional space was provided between rows for added comfort. We went from 608 seats to 488 seats, 372 on the first floor and 116 in the balcony. The balcony level has a beautiful bar and commons area for pre and post show receptions and other events.
To top off the quality of the theatrical presentations we have purchased a Steinway Model D 9 foot Concert Grand Piano. An annual National Piano Competition will be initiated in the fall of 2005.
The third floor of the theatre building was and still is a three-bedroom apartment. The apartment will be available to performers while working at the theatre.
The lowest level of the theatre building, at ground level, was transformed from a wide open room with no particular intended use, to dressing rooms, showers, makeup rooms, set and costume construction rooms and some equipment storage. There is also a Green Room on the lower level. All of these facilities are arranged for the performers comfort.
The restaurant was at the time of purchase a church with the old greasy grill still in place along one wall. It has been completely modernized and a lessee will be opening a full service restaurant in April 2005. The residence above the restaurant has been transformed into a large open art gallery. It is connected through an open passageway directly to the theatre balcony level. The gallery and the theatre bar and commons make for a wonderfully open and flowing reception facility.
The third building, formerly with residences on each of the two levels, has been transformed into offices for rent on the first floor and a two bedroom apartment as additional space for performers to reside in while performing at the theater.
The opening event will be The Heath Brothers Jazz Quartet, a presentation in conjunction with the National Endowment for the Arts, NIA. The event will take place February 25, 2005 and was sold out by February 1, 2005.
The North Theatre was closed by 2011, but plans are to reopen in 2012.
Contributed by
Roy G. Gignac
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
I had the pleasure of attending the opening night of the North Theatre. All of my family was in attendance. I have heard tells of the old theatres of Danville, like the North, Lea, Dan, Rialto, Virginia, Bijou, Capitol, Schoolfield, Gaiety, Ritz, but you never really understand what it was like until you have the chance to experience it for yourself. My best wishes to Jerry Meadors and the Board of the North. I hope to attend many more shows. It is nice to see what someone can do when they are truely focused on a vision and the ideals behind historic preservation and restoration. It changes an entire community.
Great job on Sam Shepard’s “True West.” Congrats to Jerry Meadors, Denny & Bryan Kirkwood, and Nathan Bexton. I hope others will come and see the performance. As well, I hope that others from Hollywood will become interested in participating in events and productions at the North Theatre. Again great job guys.
Opening night for True West was almost everything I had hoped for. The play was a great choice for the first professional production at the theatre. The actors were superb. The lightening was extraorinary. The theatre itself seemed to welcome the dialogue between the actors. A breath of stale air could be felt rushing toward the exit-the last of the old making a bit more space for the new. The gala that followed was as promised, a faboulous evening of wonderful food, beverage and dancing.
What, you might ask was the one thing that was missing that I had hoped for. A sold out house. The crowd was not small, but each seat was longing to be filled for this exceptional production. Maybe next time. It will not take long for the word of what’s happening at the North Theatre to spread far and wide. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
This is a recent photo of the North Theater.
Here is another recent photo of the North Theater.
A 2007 close-up view of the North Theater can be seen here.
This is a 2008 photo.
North Theater photo
Here is the North in 1981.
Here is my picture from December 2010.