Swift Creek Mill Theatre, a mainstay of Central Virginia theater for more than six decades, has announced in a post on Instagram that it will pause all operations effective May 9.
“After more than 60 years of professional theatre, dining, and community in the heart of Chesterfield, the Board of Directors of Swift Creek Mill Theatre has made the difficult decision to pause operations, effective May 9, 2026,” the post reads. “This is not a decision we made easily, and it is not the end of the story. The Board is committed to a thoughtful, honest assessment of how Swift Creek Mill Theatre can build a sustainable future — one worthy of the legacy you’ve helped us create. A formal decision on the path forward will be made at our August board meeting.”
Located in what is considered to be the oldest American grist mill in existence, the theater got its start in 1965 when three couples purchased the South Chesterfield property and converted it into a dinner theater. Back then, national tours of Broadway shows weren’t coming to Richmond, so it was up to theaters like Swift Creek to expose locals to musicals like “Mame” and “My Fair Lady.”…