Swift Creek Mill Theatre

"I recently attended the invited dress rehearsal of "Greetings," and as a Jew and a special education teacher, I was horrified the entire time. Despite an enjoyable art show preceding the play (Go James River Art League!), "Greetings" left me with a sense of horrible discomfort and complete disappointment. My friend who brought me kept apologizing afterwards and we still have not recovered fully. The evening took an uneasy turn quickly with a homophobic joke in the first scene ("If two boys get out the car I'll send them both back" or something like that) and a complete dismissive portrayal of atheism and Judaism. (The characters all ultimately find solace in the Christian God, which not only falls into a narrow narrative but also excludes those with diverse faiths.) However, all that aside as it is a Southern Christmas show despite being sold as a "holiday show," my particular source of distress was the portrayal of a disabled character by a neurotypical actor. The improper handling of seizure etiquette and the exaggerated gestures and groans contributed to a portrayal that lacked authenticity and perpetuated harmful stereotypes about the disabled community. Contrary to the cozy holiday show it was billed as, "Greetings" was marked by shouting, aggression, and uncomfortable scenes that left the entire audience visibly unsettled. Awkward laughter filled the room as we all seemed to grapple with the inappropriate content on stage. Despite the theater's claims of being a welcoming and inclusive space, "Greetings" did not align with these ideals. The disparity between the play's content and how online the theater talks about ADA compliance/a "VisitAble" membership, this raises concerns about the safety and comfort of disabled patrons. Notably, art show attendees with mobility aids seemed to not to stay for the show, a decision that seems justified in retrospect. I strongly urge those considering attending "Greetings" to reconsider. It is crucial to communicate the reasons for this decision to the theater management, with the hope that such feedback may lead to positive change. As someone who has spent days seething about this performance, I believe it is time for the theater community to reassess its commitment to inclusion and respect, and "Greetings" unfortunately falls short of these standards. Please do your research about disabilities, including nonverbal disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and motor control disabilities, and seizure etiquette. NEVER restrain someone having a seizure, place something comfortable under their head so they do not hurt themselves and then either call 911 or monitor the seizure if they have a disorder like Epilepsy and this is "common" for them. I previously saw a play here during the last James River Art League show and it was good- so I'm hoping this is not common, but this still cannot be allowed. If I had paid to see this, I would be demanding a refund."

"Following a superb seasonal lunch in the Mill dining room, our group took in a Sunday matinee of Tick…Tick…Boom and it was absolutely AWESOME! I got lost in the performance of the incredibly talented cast and the time flew by."

"I first came across Swift Creek Mill Theater in 2021, introduced to it by my wife's book club friend, and from the very beginning, we both developed a deep appreciation for it. Over the years, we frequented this establishment, often accompanied by friends, as it is the only theater near us. Granted, it's not the most budget-friendly option, but one must consider that it's a means of supporting the arts, and the quality of the performances generally warrants the expense. Nevertheless, we couldn't help but notice a few shortcomings. The theater's cleanliness was not up to par, a point of contention that persisted. Additionally, we observed what appeared to be a pattern in casting choices. Swift Creek Mill Theater seemed to limit the inclusion of non-white actors to situations where the characters explicitly referenced their race. When a character's ethnicity became relevant to the plot, only then did the theater cast a person of color. Otherwise, it seemed as though the same select individuals were continually rotating through various roles. Dining also became a less appealing option as errors in serving my wife's vegetarian meal and other issues, such as neglecting to provide drink menus, began to mar our experience. (And seriously, who offers just one roll of bread per person and a choice between two minuscule desserts? Dessert's the best part!) However, despite these shortcomings, we cherished our time spent in the charming tavern both for shows and cabarets—until recently. The production of Tick Tick Boom shattered our trust in Swift Creek Mill Theater. A close friend's child fell victim to assault by a lead cast member, and it came to light that the management was aware of this cast member's history of predatory behavior, yet still chose to employ him and allowed him to complete the show's run. Management knowingly retained a man with a history of sexual assault against multiple people, and this revelation left us profoundly disturbed. Seeing this individual's face prominently displayed in advertisements across the internet is nothing short of heart-wrenching, especially for those within our community who have fallen prey to his actions. It is sickening to witness the theater's management turns a blind eye to his transgressions. Reflecting on the situation, I regret not heeding the warning signs and discontinuing our patronage long before this disturbing incident came to light. I am not alone in this sentiment, as I know at least two dozen others who share my resolve to refrain from returning, purchasing season tickets, or making further donations to Swift Creek Mill Theatre following this last, indefensible casting decision. Inaction can be as culpable as wrongdoing itself and the community deserves to know. Swift Creek Mill Theatre, you must strive to do better. Your complacency in the face of such grave misconduct is inexcusable, and it tarnishes the reputation of an institution that should be a beacon of integrity within our community."

"We saw the show "Keep on the Sunny Side" about the original Carter family going back to 1914. The show is mostly musical numbers sung by the Carters, and the ensemble didn't disappoint with strong voices and lovely harmonies as they sang the bluegrass songs."

"My husband and I had dinner and watched the play “Gas light”. Both were great! The restaurant was cozy and perfect for date night. The drinks and food were delicious! The dessert was lacking… we ordered sticky toffee pudding which was a flavorless muffin with toffee sauce on it. The sauce was good but the pudding errr. muffin was not. The play was outstanding! I loved the intimacy of the theater. I felt like I was part of the play. The actors and actress was very professional. We loved our experience and plan to return."