About the Star City Playhouse
The Star City Playhouse will mount four full productions each year in a converted furniture warehouse beside the French Thistle on Williamson Road. Your grandparents may have bought appliances from this former Pete Moore Warehouse store. The building includes 5 apartments, two stores and a 99-seat theatre. The decor will be black and gold with Art Déco influences of Erté.
The mission of the Star City Playhouse is to provide excellent affordable art without grants. Rather, the apartments and commercial space in the building will support the theatre. Volunteers handle all the production work. The playhouse will serve as a theatrical home for an ensemble, resident company, helping actors keep their craft sharp and their resumés fresh.
Lots of light - very charming 1930's style apartments. Refinished wood floors.
Hallways are decorated like a French Quarter Alleyway.
Our Types of Shows
We perform mostly classic American dramas and comedies by our greatest playwrights, and modern, witty plays by our Playwright in Residence, Karon Sue Semones. Musicals do not make it onto our performance schedule, as they are so well-represented at other theatres. Our Performances page lists plays we've done in the past, and demonstrates the types of plays we'll continue performing here in Roanoke.
Teaching Programs
The Star City Playhouse doesn't hold acting classes. We believe you learn your craft by acting. Being involved in the process not only allows you to observe the collaborative nature of the theatre where every part and piece contributes to the play's success, but also gives you a safe zone in which to create your character. Actors can witness their growth as they discover how to "wear" another human being and breathe life into them. It is serious "play."
Shakespeare's Daughters will be offered from time to time and is a class for high school girls to discover their writing voices before college. Participation is by invitation, after essays, writing samples and interviews. It's limited to six young women and is a free service offered to the community by the Playwright in Residence, Karon Sue Semones.
