Wells Theatre
Category: Performance Venues
Address
110 East Tazewell St
Norfolk, VA 23510
757-627-1234
Details
The Wells Theatre opened on August 26, 1913. That first year, Maude Adams flew across the stage as Peter Pan and Well’s presented Ben-Hur complete with teams of horses on treadmills. Fred and Adele Astaire, Will Rogers, Billie Burke, John Drew, John Phillip Sousa and Dorothy Gish all appeared on the Wells stage. In 1916, they installed a movie screen and by the beginning of World War II, burlesque had joined the repertory. In the 1960s, the Wells became an x-rated movie house, its backstage area converted into The Jamaican Room, a notorious gin mill and brothel. The Virginia Stage Company moved into the Wells Theatre following restoration on February 7, 1980. $3.5 million in additional restorations were completed in 1986, resulting in the Beaux-Arts gem’s designation as a National Historic Landmark
Upcoming Events
Nearby Dining
- Tap It Local244 Granby St (52 feet NW)
- Granby Street Pizza235 Granby St (88 feet SW)
- Hokkaido Sushi Bar233 Granby St (100 feet SW)
- Hair of The Dog250 Granby Street (118 feet NE)
Nearby Shopping
- Granby Bistro225 Granby St (161 feet SW)
- Locals Marketplace271 Granby St (286 feet N)
- Cream300 Monticello Ave (370 feet NE)
- Currency Exchange International300 Monticello Ave (370 feet NE)
Nearby Attractions
- The Governor's School for the Arts Dalis Black Box Theatre254 Granby St (86 feet N)
- Mermaids on Parade (402 feet SW)
- Regal Entertainment Group300 Monticello Ave (419 feet NE)
- Ripples200 Granby Street (420 feet SW)
Nearby Parking Garages & Surface Lots
- Boush Street Garage112 W. City Hall Ave. (491 feet W)
- MacArthur Center South Garage500 City Hall Ave. (753 feet SE)
- Garage at The Main Hotel100 East Main St (765 feet SW)
- West Plume Street Garage135 West Plume St (816 feet SW)