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Originally designed by Fred Bishop, who also designed the Byrd Theatre in Richmond, the Beacon Theatre (originally named the Broadway) was built in 1928 by the Knights of Pytheas as a silent movie and vaudeville theatre. The theater thrived as a movie house from the 1950s-1970s before being abandoned in 1981 and falling into disrepair. In 2011, the Hopewell City Council took action to refurbish the Beacon Theatre in time for the centennial celebration of Hopewell in 2016. Their goal was to restore the Beacon to its original glory and have it play a major role in the cultural and recreational life of the area. By 2012 the restoration design for the theater and the backstage was complete and renovation began. Work was completed in early 2014 and on Monday, January 13, 2014, the Beacon Theatre reopened to tremendous fanfare with a sold-out concert by the legendary Leon Russell. Since the grand-reopening, the Beacon has grown and evolved to meet its directive to play a major role in the cultural and recreational life of the area.

The Beacon Theatre serves as a performance venue, conference center and special occasion facility. The building’s two (2) beautifully appointed ballrooms showcase opportunities for the Beacon to serve as a conference center and special occasion facility (weddings, reunions, receptions, socials, conferences, luncheons, corporate events, job fairs, product launches, etc). The theater proper steadily features live music showcasing the intimacy of the venue and its status as a first-rate entertainment/corporate event facility. For information regarding ballroom rentals, contact The Beacon Theatre at (804) 446 3457.