Children's Theatre Moves to Dumas in Roanoke

Inside the Dumas Center.

Roanoke Children’s Theatre, which has been performing at the Taubman Museum in downtown Roanoke since shortly after its founding in 2008, is moving to the Dumas Center for Artistic Development in Roanoke. RCT, one of the area's really good success stories, is the only professional theater in Roanoke serving kids and families, producing four literary or issue-based productions per year. It has served over 56,000 patrons to date.

This is a dandy move for RCT, though its affiliation with the Taubman was good for both organizations and gave the Taubman more of a "people" feel. Pat Wilhelms formed RCT after effectively being tossed out by Mill Mountain's Theater's former--long gone and hardly missed--creative director and took her considerably experience across the street to RCT. Pat came out well. MMT eventually closed and had to bring in a board of directors to resurrect it.

Dumas Center exterior.

“We are so proud to have reached this exciting new stage of growth – literally!” says Pat . “The opportunities in our new venue offer so much to RCT, our patrons and our community.  Not only will our audiences enjoy increased audience seating capacity, we will be able to expand programming opportunities and provide abundant free parking.”  

The additional available space in the Dumas will provide RCT with dressing room access, mirrored classrooms, a parent lounge and new and fun surprise events that will complement RCT’s mission.

"To be housed in a historically creative place will not only serve as inspiration to the company, but will give us the opportunity to share our invigorated new vision in our new neighborhood. We look forward to all of the ways we can work together to give our community’s youth and families creative, imaginative opportunities that inspire their growth and health,” emphasizes Wilhelms.

The new season includes: “How I Became a Priate,” a musical in October; “A Little House Christmas” in December; “Teen Brain,” another musical in February;  and “The True story of the 3 Little Pigs” in June.

(Photos: jhpence.com and downtownroanoke.org)