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Writer’s Block | Student Poets from PodiumRVA Speak Their Truth

A Sunday series from RVA Magazine featuring writers from Richmond and Virginia Writer’s Block is RVA Magazine’s Sunday series highlighting contemporary writers working in Richmond and across the Commonwealth. Each week, we feature original poems, short stories, or...

The Byrd Theatre Is Still Richmond’s Palace of Dreams

Christmas Eve, 1928. Richmond is cold and the city is dressed for the holiday. On West Cary Street, a crowd gathers outside a building that wasn't there six months ago; a French Empire facade rising up in the middle of a neighborhood that had no idea it was about to...

Homegrown Stories Isn’t Content, It’s a Shared Experience

This Friday, March 27, a different sort of experimental prompt video event will showcase a collection of work made for Homegrown Stories. In the early days of RVA Magazine, that space existed through Project Resolution, a monthly prompt-based series that gave new...

Remembering WRIR Founders and Leaders in a Year of Loss

Over the past six months, three people foundational to WRIR 97.3 FM, Richmond’s volunteer-run station built outside the expectations of corporate radio, rooted in a love of music, giving locals a voice, and creating space where there wasn’t any, have died. All from...

No Red Carpet, Just Films! James River Film Festival Is Back

Every spring, I look forward to one of Richmond’s best film traditions, the James River Film Festival. With the mantra “Eclectic Celluloid for the Cinematic Soul,” the James River Film Society curates programs spanning a wide range of subjects and styles. It’s always...

Babe Improv Might Be The Funniest Thing in Richmond Right Now

There’s a moment during a Babe Improv set where you realize two things at once. First, they have no idea what they’re about to do next. Second, it’s all going to work out somehow. That tightrope is what makes it work, and when you have two people this in sync, it...

As Funny As Possible: An Interview With Annie Lederman

This week I got to talk with Annie Lederman. You may recognize her from Opie and Anthony, as the voice of Cheryl Fawkes on Grand Theft Auto V, her new hit podcast Trash Tuesday with cohosts Esther Povitsky and Khalyla Kuhn, or the comedy stage. I called while Lederman was shooting a promo video for her upcoming shows -- a few of which are here in...

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Bring Back Apu: An Interview With Akaash Singh

This week I got talk with the undeniably flagrant Akaash Singh. The outspoken comedian has been lighting up the stage and the podcast world with his hot takes, outsider perspective, and crowd work for a while now. The buzz has now officially climaxed into his new special, Bring Back Apu, which will be available on YouTube on February 2 -- the...

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This Holiday, Punks Bring Presents In The Form Of Laughter

After 16 years of raising money for the Children's Hospital of Richmond through the hosting of Christmas-themed punk/metal tribute shows, Punks For Presents has broadened its horizons, presenting its first-ever comedy show at Cobra Cabana on Thursday, December 9. Hosts Benjamin Braman and Mike Engle gave us a preview of what the event has in...

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Cheap Suits And Bad Jokes

Neil Hamburger's standup comedy often feels more like performance art that is primarily intended to make you uncomfortable. What would that be like live and in person? When Hamburger came to Richmond Music Hall last month, Ryan Kent went to find out. The elephant graveyard for suits is the thrift store. Mostly you’ll find hangered sports...

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Outlaw Comedy: An Interview With Paige Campbell

Born in Staunton and based in Richmond, comedian Paige Campbell wears a cowboy hat and books a monthly showcase at Buskey Cider. This month, it's on Black Friday, and it's got a lineup sure to excite RVA comedy lovers. Gabe Santamaria caught up with Paige to get the scoop. This week I talked with outlaw comedian Paige Campbell. The cowboy...

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Winston Hodges Is Already Aware (And Thank You For Asking)

Virginia standup comedian Winston Hodges just released his first professionally-recorded album, Already Aware, with Helium Comedy Records. But he's far from new to the comedy game, as RVA Mag's Ash Griffith learned during their conversation. Winston Hodges is doing pretty okay these days. Originally from Farmville, VA and getting his start in the...

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Comedy Comfort Food

When Steve Martin and Martin Short came to the Altria Theater on October 22, they proved that comedy doesn't have to be edgy to be extremely funny. "You can start by wiping that fucking dumbass smile off your rosy fucking cheeks. And you can give me a fucking automobile – a fucking Datsun, a fucking Toyota, a fucking Mustang, a fucking Buick....

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Nightmare On Broad Street: An Interview With David Pijor

After a long pandemic-related sabbatical, the Coalition Theater has returned to action, and this Halloween weekend will bring the eighth incarnation of their long-running Halloween event, spread across four nights. Gabe Santamaria spoke to Coalition co-founder and creative director David Pijor about improv in a post-pandemic city, their mutual...

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