Neil and Sara Belle November, long-standing community leaders and Richmond philanthropists, are giving $2 million to Barksdale Theatre /Theatre IV, Central Virginia’s resident professional theater company.
In recognition of the gift, the 100-year-old Empire Theatre will begin its second century as an entertainment venue with a new name, the “Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre” in January 2012. This will be the first and only theatre to bear the names of both husband and wife.
The gift is “the largest gift ever made by an individual to a Richmond-based nonprofit producing theater, and one of only two gifts of this size made by individuals to any nonprofit theater in Virginia,” according to Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones.
He looked at a rendering of the theater’s West Broad Street façade and said “the rendering reminds me of the true jewel that it was and will be again.” He said that the Empire Theatre was the first theater built for use by racially mixed audiences.
“We’re thrilled Mayor Jones recognized the vision and the leadership of the Novembers here today,” said Phil Whiteway, managing director of Barksdale Theatre/Theatre IV. “Extensive public/private partnerships is the key to redeveloping downtown Richmond.”
Carlos Silva of Bistro 27 spoke for the surrounding businesses, art galleries, coffee shops and restaurants during the announcement, thanked the city of the vision of the improvements in the Broad Street corridor and declared that the area has become a destination for Richmond.
The contribution from the Novembers is being offered as a legacy gift, the majority of which will provide funding for capital restoration and endowment. The Empire Theatre opened on Christmas Day in 1911, making it the oldest major theater in Virginia.
Publicist for the theater, Judi Crenshaw, said the marketing plan for the name change to the November Theatre has been in the works for the past couple of months. The theatre is expecting to have to contact many theater and travel publications, media outlets and web search engines to alert everyone to the name switch and avoid confusion.
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