Wicked, that phenomenal box office hit is coming back to Richmond’s Landmark Theater October 5th through October 16th, 2011. Tickets for this fabulous Broadway musical go on sale Friday August 5 2011 at the Landmark box office at 7 AM, and on the web at 10 AM.

Wicked is, of course, Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz.  Called the “best musical of the decade”  by Entertainment Weekly, the musical covers so much that happened before Dorothy dropped in. Wicked tells the story of Elphaba, the future Wicked Witch of the West and her relationship with Galinda, later Glinda, the Good Witch of the North. Their friendship struggles through their opposing personalities and viewpoints, rivalry over the same love-interest, their reactions to the Wizard’s corrupt government, and, ultimately, Elphaba’s public fall from grace. The plot of the first act is set before Dorothy’s arrival from Kansas, and includes several references to well-known scenes and dialogue in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz as a backstory.

Get your tickets while the best seats are available. Make it a special downtown evening by making a reservation to check in at the Fan District’s premier bed and breakfast, just two blocks away from the Landmark Theater. After dinner at one of the Fan’s great restaurants, stroll to the theater, enjoy the performance, then back to your guest suite for a great night’s sleep – no driving worries, we have off street parking for our guests, and in the morning you’ll be treated to a hearty gourmet breakfast! Got an anniversary, birthday, proposal in the works? This is a perfect way to celebrate!

The exciting 2011/2012 series of Broadway shows has been introduced by Broadway in Richmond.  ”Wicked: The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz” returns to the Landmark Theater for a run October 5 through October 16, 2011. Last year, this show came to Richmond and broke box office records, selling out in record time. Don’t miss this performance telling the tale of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good in Munchkinland, before Dorothy arrived on the scene.

November 5th and 6th, brings “Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles” to the Carpenter Theatre at Richmond’s CenterStage. It’s Beatlemania on stage – from their early beginnings to their hard-rocking days with songs like “Let It Be,” “Hey Jude,” and “Can’t Buy Me Love.”

The Landmark Theater welcomes Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “South Pacific” for a run December 16th and 17th. This version is based on the 2008 Tony Award-winning Lincoln Center production of the World War II era romantic story of two couples. This is the musical that brought us tunes like ” Some Enchanted Evening” and  ”I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair.”

The new year  of Broadway in Richmond will open with “The Lion King” running February 15 through March 11, 2012 at the Landmark Theater. “The Lion King” is Broadway’s award winning Best Musical bringing the animals of the African Pridelands to life onstage. The score includes “can You Feel The Love Tonight” and “Circle of Life.” This bound to be a sell-out, attracting audiences of all ages!

Running April 27-29, 2012 The Blue Man Group visits the Landmark with their poplar mix of comedy, music, and technology completely devoid of spoken language!.

Season Subscriptions are now on sale with a 4-show series ranging from $150 to $290 and a 5-show series ranging from $200 to $350 per person.  There’s even an option to add The Christmas Music of Mannheim Steamroller’s November 26th performance and/or the December 9th performance of Amy Grant and VInce Gill at the Landmark.

The Landmark Theater at 6 N Laurel Street in Richmond’s historic Fan District is a wonderful venue for the performing arts. Carpenter Theatre at CenterStage is in Richmond’s downtown and has been recently renovated and restored. Both venues are worth a visit in their own right and a performance is icing on the cake. Broadway in Richmond season subscriptions are available; individual tickets will be on sale soon.

The closest bed and breakfast to both of these venues is Richmond’s best bed and breakfast known for its hearty gourmet breakfasts. The urban inn is just 3 blocks from the Landmark, an easy walk and no parking worries! So make it a special in-town date and reserve your room today.

Legendary rocker Neil Young comes to Richmond’s Landmark Theater on Sunday April 17 as part of his Spring Solo Tour.

Neil Young at the Landmark in Richmond April 17

Young will include songs from his currently acclaimed album, Le Noise, as well as his classic material in both acoustic and electric settings.  Neil recently won his second-ever Grammy for “Best Rock Song” for “Angry World,” a track from Le Noise, which was nominated for Best Rock Album. Neil Young has invited British folk legend Bert Jansch as support for his appearance here in Richmond. Tickets are available from TicketMaster .

Neil Young is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation. Young began performing as a solo artist in Canada in 1960, before moving to California in 1966, where he co-founded the band Buffalo Springfield along with Stephen Stills and Richie Furay, and later joined Crosby, Stills & Nash as a fourth member in 1969. He then forged a successful and acclaimed solo career, releasing his first album in 1968; his career has since spanned over 40 years and 34 studio albums, with a continual and uncompromising exploration of musical styles. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website describes Young as “one of rock and roll’s greatest songwriters and performers”. He has been inducted into the Hall of Fame twice: first as a solo artist in 1995, and second as a member of Buffalo Springfield in 1997.

David Blaine is “Pushing the Limits of Human Endurance” as part of Richmond’s Forum on Saturday, April 16 at 8 PM. Blaine will discuss his endurance stunts and love of magic at the Landmark Theater at 6 N Laurel Street in Richmond’s historic Fan District.  Individual tickets are $36 to $70 but are limited so call the Forum office (804) 330-3993 for availability.

David Blaine Magic Endurance Stunts

Originally conceived by members of the First Unitarian Church in Richmond in 1964, the Richmond Public Forum brought internationally and nationally known speakers to Richmond to enlighten, educate, and entertain audiences. Speakers included notables like Henry Kissinger, Shirley Chisholm, and Moshe Dayan – to name a few. In 1980, after 16 years, the Forum ceased operations. In 1986, the Richmond Forum revived as a nonprofit educational organization presenting Ted Koppel, ABC news journalist, as its first program. For over twenty years, The Richmond Forum has presented and produced programs that stimulate, inspire, and inform its patrons.  Many of which have been “one and only” type events – available no where else. Tickets are available on a subscription basis, but often single event tickets are available.

The Landmark Theater opened in 1927 after seven years of planning and two years of construction. The theater was purchased by the City of Richmond from the Shriners in 1940 and the City embarked on a renovation to restore its splendor in 1994/5. Some of America’s greatest entertainers have appeared on stage beneath its towering minarets and desert murals. The Landmark is also home to the Broadway in Richmond series, featuring Broadway plays and musicals.

The Landmark Theater, at 6 N. Laurel Street, is within walking distance, just blocks from Richmond’s premier bed and breakfast, located in the historic Fan District. When events at the Landmark are on your schedule, make an overnight at our urban inn part of the plans for a very special treat.

The premier bed and breakfast inn in Richmond’s historic Fan District is enthusiastically supporting the B&Bs Kick Gas program, marketed by the “Better Way To Stay” program of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International.

Are you seeing this at the gas pump?

Gas prices have us all in a spin.  A trip to the gas pump seems to require a trip to the bank or ATM.  Pretty soon a trip to the gas pump will be just as big a dent in our budgets as rent or mortgage payment.

But there’s no need to postpone that getaway!  We’re offering three different gas-related specials to our guests who book a new reservation between April 15 and June 30, 2011.

CARPOOL! Save gas and carpool with your friends: 2 couples stay 2 consecutive nights in 2 rooms and arrive in 1 car, we’ll deduct $25 per room to use for gas.

HYBRID! Drive a hybrid and you’ll get $35 for gas when you stay 3 consecutive nights.

WEEKDAY REBATE! Relax in one of our guest rooms for two consecutive weekday nights (Monday through Thursday) and we’ll apply 20-cents per mile for your return trip home or to your next day’s stop (up to 125 miles) as a rebate on your bill.

Choose whichever option suits your needs, but only one per reservation, please! Once you get here, you’ll be in the heart of the historic Fan District of Richmond Virginia, within walking distance of museums, attractions, restaurants and neighborhood eateries, shopping, the Landmark Theater, and Virginia Commonwealth University – so you’ll save even more gas! See our website for a full description of the special and of its restrictions.

While you’re here, we’ll treat you to a hearty gourmet breakfast every morning (the kind that sticks to your ribs) to fuel your day’s walking.  And, our guest rooms provide all the comfort and luxury you’ve come to expect. Downtown, in the Fan District is definitely a “Better Way To Stay.”  So, make your reservation now and take advantage of this exceptional opportunity!

On March 17, 2011 at 7:30 PM the Landmark Theater comes alive with the beat of the traditional Japanese drum, the taiko. Kodo both preserves and reinterprets traditional Japanese performing arts.

Kodo Drummers of Japan in Richmond March 17

The Kodo Drummers have lived on Sado Island; the source of their inspiration and creativity, since 1971.  This concert at Richmond’s Landmark Theater is part of Kodo’s “One Earth” and 30th anniversary tour.  Through the ‘One Earth Tour,’ the Kodo Drummers continue to bring the sound of the Japanese drum to the ears of the world.  The taiko’s unique ability to transcend the barriers of language and custom reminds listeners that we all are members of that larger community– the world.

Here’s what critics have to say about Kodo

“Traditional rituals recast as theater, and contemporary thoughts about ancient instruments both figure in Kodo’s performance, which includes ancient and modern compositions. Yet with tense, angular postures, with stylized, frozen gestures and, in one playful piece, with animal-like scampering and slithering, Kodo reminds its audience that, above all, its music is a matter of flesh and blood, wood and stretched skin. Kodo can raise the roof, but the group can also show extraordinary finesse.”   The New York Times

“Indeed, if there is such a thing as perfection in music, Kodo comes as near to it as any group in the world.”  Boston Globe

The Landmark Theater is located at 6 N. Laurel Street, near Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park campus, and just three blocks from Richmond’s premier bed and breakfast inn.

February 22 through February 28, 2011 finds a week packed with exciting events and things to do in VIrginia’s capitol city, Richmond.

Full Calendar of Events in Richmond VA This Week

1. VMFA presents the exhibition “Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso, Paris” featuring 176 works in various media chronicling the famed artist’s entire career. See our other blog post for details! Open 7 days a week, hours 10 AM to 6 PM, extended to 9 PM on Thursdays and Fridays. World class art – not to be missed!

2. Michael Flatley’s “Lord of the Dance” the powerful Irish Dance phenomenon takes the stage at the Landmark Theater  on February 22 at 7:30 PM. Blog Post.

3. John Mellencamp, American rock singer/songwriter known for his own brand of rock that favors organic instrumentation not synthesizers and artificial sounds, will appear as part of his “No Better Than This Tour” on Thursday, February 24 at 7 PM at Richmond’s Landmark Theater. Mellencamp has sold over 40 million albums worldwide and his latest album “No Better Than This” was released to widespread acclaim August, 2010. Tickets from Ticketmaster entitle ticket holder to download one copy of the album. Past hits include “Hurts So Good” and “Jack and Diane.”

4. The Virginia Wine Expo opens Thursday, February 25 with the Virginia Governor’s Cup Grand Tasting at 6 PM at the Greater Richmond Convention Center , 403 N Third Street, in downtown Richmond.  The Virginia Wine Expo is a showcase of wines, featuring over 350 Virginia wines from over 60 of Virginia’s top producers. Friday’s event, in addition to the Virginia Governor’s Cup Grand Tasting, features Chef Michael Hall; Saturday evening features “Sparkling and Sweets” presented by “Richmond Magazine” with sparkling and dessert wines accompanying desserts from Virginia pastry chefs and chocolatiers.  Also on Saturday there are seminars covering topics from pairing wine and chocolate to sushi and wine. Sunday there’s even a seminar about Burgers and Wine! Sunday is also open to walk-around tastings. Don’t miss this chance to try so many of Virginia’s finest wines!  More Info and Tickets. The Virginia Wine Expo benefits the Virginia Wineries Association, the Central Virginia Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.

5. Real Richmond Food Tours and More offer a tour to navigate the culture and food of Richmond’s own Carytown/Museum District on Saturday February 26 between 2 PM and 4:30 PM. The tour will stop in “intimate bistros, bustling lunch spots with Southern favorites, and specialty food retailers featured in national magazines while passing through quirky Carytown.” The tour is called “Butchers, Bakers & Beyond;” but space is strictly limited and tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets!

6. The Children’s Museum of Richmond teaches children to play every day – and, now, on Thursday February 25, 2011 adults are invited to a grownups only evening featuring good food and drink, entertainment and a special auction to raise funds to provide museum visits for children in need.  The theme for this year’s Twilight Carniball is Destination Rio with Brazilian cuisine, entertainment by Bio Ritmo, samba dancers and live Brazilian entertainment. Tickets are $75 per person, available by phone (804)  474-7005 or online.

7.  The Royal Ballet School and the Richmond Ballet trainees and apprentices present four joint performances in the Richmond Ballet Studio Theatre, 407 E Canal Street in downtown Richmond.  Performances start Friday, February 25, 2011 at 7 PM with a special children’s matinee on Saturday afternoon, an evening performance Saturday evening and another matinee on Sunday afternoon. This is your chance to see the stars of tomorrow perform.

8. Virginia Opera performs Richard Wagner’s “The Valkyrie” on February 25 at 8 PM and a matinee on Sunday February 27 at 2:30 PM at the Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage.  Virginia Opera offers a free pre-opera discussion 45 minutes before each opera performance.  Dr. Glenn Winters, Virginia Opera’s Community Musical Outreach Director , conducts the discussion and provides insights into the upcoming performance.  Running time is a little over 3 hours including a 25-minute intermission.

9. The Richmond Symphony performs “Reflections” at Bon Air Baptist Church on Friday February 25 at 8 PM in part of the Metro Collection. Composers on the program include Elgar, Schreker, Strauss, and Poulenc.  Sunday, February 27 the performance is repeated in a matinee at Randolph-Macon College.

And, just in case you don’t want to drive home, we’re the bed and breakfast closest to downtown and truly “a better way to stay!”

Next Tuesday, February 22, 2011, for ONE NIGHT ONLY, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance takes the stage at Richmond’s Landmark Theater.  The show starts at 7:30 PM and tickets are available.  Michael Flatley will be inducted into the Irish America Hall of Fame on March 11th for his impact as creator of “Lord of the Dance”  and as one of the originators of “Riverdance.”  And, on St. Patrick’s Day, watch for the movie “Lord of the Dance in 3D” to hit your neighborhood movie theater.

“The Lord of the Dance,” an extravaganza of precision dancing, pyrotechnics, and state of the art lighting is based on Irish folklore and a classic tale of Good versus Evil, the Lord of the Dance versus the Dark Lord.  Audiences around the world have been thrilled by the performances and have showered acclaim on these vigorous, talented performers.  Thanks to performances like these, irish dance has reached new levels of recognition and appreciation since the  premiere of “Lord of the Dance” in 1996.  It attracts audiences from all walks of life, crossing any and all traditional boundaries with its exhilarating music and dance projecting levels of unstoppable energy.

So clear your calendar and make plans to see Michael Flately’s “Lord of the Dance” at Richmond, Virginia’s historic Landmark Theater at 6 N. Laurel Street, just 3 blocks from the Fan District’s premier bed and breakfast inn.

Richmond Virginia is THE place to be in February of 2011.

There is plenty to see and do and here are the top five things to put on your calendar as “not-to-be-missed!”

1. 

   Conservatory at Lewis Ginter is home to gorgeous orchids

   Cupid and lovers are on display everywhere in the weeks leading up to Valentines Day on February 14th, but Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens has a special display called ”The Garden is for Lovers” featuring a luscious Valentines display in the conservatory from February 1 through February 28th, with tulips, daffodils and hyacinths in full bloom.  The Conservatory is the “Jewel of the Garden,” with 11,000 square-foot housing exotic and unusual plants from around the world. Crowned by a 63-foot-tall dome, the Conservatory includes a central Palm House and this Valentine-themed display full of seasonal color and interest. Don’t miss the beautiful exotic orchids in the tropical wing.  Special Valentine’s dinners and brunches are available February 12 through 14th in the Tea House.  Make your arrangements now!

2. 

   The Virginia Historical Society opens "An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia" February 4 2011

   For history buffs, “An American Turning Point: The Civil War in Virginia” opens on February 4th at the Virginia Historical Society.  Best of all it will run until December 30, 2011, when it will be packed up and sent to seven other museums.  This free exhibition commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Civil War focusing, not on generals and battlefields, but on the lives of ordinary Virginians who struggled to survive and those who participated in military action.  The Virginia Historical Society is devoting a 3,000 square foot gallery with more than 200 objects and 17 state-of-the-art audiovisual programs to this exhibition.  Learn More.

3. 

   The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts

   Just next door at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the only east coast stop of the widely-acclaimed international tour of “Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso, Paris” opens on February 19th.  Works from each of the artist’s major periods are represented in the exhibition including many from his personal collection.  This is clearly a once-in-lifetime opportunity to view world-class art right here in Richmond Virginia. Tickets are free for VMFA members, $20 for adults. The exhibition extends until May 15th, 2011.

4. 

   Anderson Cooper at The Richmond Forum

   CNN’s own Anderson Cooper, Emmy-award winning correspondent, who has covered major news events around the world, often on-site, will speak at The Richmond Forum on  Saturday evening February 19th, and, due to overwhelming demand, at a special matinee presentation on Sunday, February 20th. His topic: “a 360-Degree Look At World Events.”  Information and Tickets. The Richmond Forum is a 501 (c) (3) educational organization dedicated to bringing leaders from around the world to Richmond’s stage to expand horizons, to stimulate conversation, and to inspire our community. Anderson Cooper will speak at Richmond’s Landmark Theater.

5. 

   Virginia Wine Expo February 25 - 27

   The Virginia Wine Expo, a showcase of wines, featuring over 350 Virginia wines from over 60 of Virginia’s top producers, takes over the Greater Richmond Convention Center Friday February 25th through Sunday, February 27th. Friday’s event features the Virginia Governor’s Cup Grand Tasting; Saturday evening features “Sparkling and Sweets” presented by “Richmond Magazine” with sparkling and dessert wines accompanying desserts from Virginia pastry chefs and chocolatiers.  Also on Saturday there are seminars covering topics from pairing wine and chocolate to sushi and wine. Sunday there’s even a seminar about Burgers and Wine! Sunday is also open to walk-around tastings. Don’t miss this chance to try so many of Virginia’s finest wines!  More Info and Tickets. The Virginia Wine Expo benefits the Virginia Wineries Association, the Central Virginia Food Bank and Meals on Wheels.

These are just five of Richmond’s top events for February.  From art to wine, gardens to history, and even a little bit of intellectual conversation – it’s all right here in Richmond Virginia!

And, if you’re looking for a place to stay to enjoy these events, look no farther than our historic Fan District bed and breakfast, located right in the middle of it all!

The ongoing Broadway in Richmond series presents THE COLOR PURPLE at The Landmark Theater. Opening on Friday, January 28, 2011 and running through Sunday, January 31, 2011, with evening performances and two matinees, this musical showcases the unforgettable and inspiring tale of Celie, the female lead.  Soaring over adversity and oppression and uncovering her own strength, Celie and the characters of THE COLOR PURPLE tell the powerful, timeless story of the healing power of love.

THE COLOR PURPLE at Richmond Virginia's Landmark Theater January 28 - 30, 2011

TICKETS.

Passion runs deep in this saga depicting the strength of black women in rural Georgia during the first half of the 20th century.  The marvelous score of this musical, features gospel, jazz, pop and blues, and was nominated for a GRAMMY®.  It is sure to have your fingers snapping and your toes tapping carrying your spirit from quiet moments of desperation to exalting moments of freedom and triumph.  Sights and Sounds from THE COLOR PURPLE.

THE COLOR PURPLE, the  musical adaptation of the film version, opened in December 2005 at The Broadway Theatre in New York City.  Broadway’s musical adaptation opened twenty years after the film starring Whoopie Goldberg, as Celie, was nominated for 11 Academy Awards – winning none after igniting controversy with some critics calling it the best picture of the year; others concerned with the depiction of the black male as abusive and disloyal.  The Broadway production ended in February 2008, ending a 27-month run. Now on national tour with a touring cast, this Broadway musical is coming to Richmond, Virginia.

THE COLOR PURPLE, the novel, was written by Alice Walker and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1983, as well as the National Book Award.  According to the American Library Association, it is among “the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2000 – 2010.”

THE COLOR PURPLE is bound to stir your soul with its thought-provoking subject matter and content.  It’s a sure-hit, not to be missed!

Make it a very special evening, by dining out at one of Richmond’s eclectic neighborhood restaurants and treating yourself to an overnight at the Fan District’s premier bed and breakfast – just three blocks from the Landmark!