Metropolitan Arts Council Dba Virginia Samford Theatre

The Virginia Samford Theatre is the oldest performing arts venue in the City of Birmingham. Built in 1927, the VST has a rich history in the ongoing development of local artists and the nurturing of the creative spirit. The historic landmark playhouse serves as a beacon for local artistic endeavors by providing opportunities for both established and emerging artists and by offering pathways for creative minds to flourish in an environment designed for life-long learning. The state of the art facility operates as an artists’ collective and major performance venue for the Red Mountain Theatre Company, the Dane Peterson Theatre, Norton Dill Productions, the Arova Contemporary Ballet Company, City Equity Company, Green and White Productions and VST Productions. Individual and corporate support enables the Virginia Samford Theatre to provide below market rental fees to the participating groups who use the facility on a regular basis. Additionally, the Virginia Samford Theatre has partnered with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Very Special Arts Alabama, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Children’s Dance Foundation and numerous non-profit social agencies. As a 12 month production company, the Virginia Samford Theatre employs a full-time staff and part-time local artists as stage directors, actors, choreographers, dancers, musicians, scenic designers and costumers who collaborate as an artistic team. The annual performances consistently result in accolades from theatre critics as well as arts patrons. In addition to critically acclaimed performances, the Virginia Samford Theater has successfully helped to address the need for arts literacy in the community. While many arts education programs are aimed at instilling student proficiency in a specific art form, the innovative initiatives at the VST speak to a deeper engagement with the art form of theatre that allows participants to see and make connections between the arts and their quality of life choices. The cultural literacy programs STARS (Students Take A Role at the Samford) for underserved youth and the SAASY (Seasoned Arts At the Samford for You) designed for the senior population, focus on the idea that art does not exist in a vacuum but in fact, is a vital and vibrant part of our daily lives. With its outreach programming for low to moderate income residents, the VST is committed to growing and maintaining the cultural landscape in Birmingham.