Altria Theater

Opened in 1927 as the Mosque Theater, Altria Theater is one of Richmond's most recognizable buildings, designed by architects Marcellus Wright, Sr., Charles M. Robinson, and Charles Custer Robinson in an Egyptian Revival style with towering minarets and desert murals. Built under the Shriners and later purchased by the City of Richmond in 1940, the theater underwent a major renovation in 1994-95 that restored its original architectural grandeur. Today the theater seats up to 3,600 guests for concerts, Broadway productions, and other live entertainment, and its private event spaces have hosted weddings, galas, trade shows, and corporate functions. The Grand Ballroom, decorated with the sweeping columns and ornamental detail original to the building, accommodates up to 800 guests seated or 1,400 standing. Monroe Park, an outdoor space overlooking the theater's facade, holds up to 600 guests seated or 1,000 standing, and multiple lobbies, lounges, and parlors throughout the building offer additional gathering space for smaller functions such as holiday parties, baby showers, and family reunions.