After a 10-year hiatus, ATLAS Partnership has relaunched Coffee & Conversations, a beloved free community gathering featuring panel discussions about a variety of theatre topics, and of course, coffee and pastries. All presentations take place at Henrico County Public Library - Libbie Mill Branch. Past and upcoming dates and topics are as follows:

• Thursday, January 16, 2025, 10:00 am - The Platinum Jubilee of Professional Theatre in Greater Richmond, celebrating the formative years of the Modern Era of professional theatre in the Richmond region (1953-1964). Panelists included Bruce Miller, representing Barksdale Theatre, founded 1953 in Hanover, VA, where he served as Artistic Director for 12 years before the company merged with Theatre IV to become Virginia Rep; Brad Armstrong, representing John Rolfe Players, founded in Chester, VA, in 1954 by his parents, Dottie and Larry Armstrong; Steve Murden, VMFA archivist representing Virginia Museum Theatre/TheatreVirginia, founded 1955 in Richmond, VA; and Charles Wax, representing Chamberlayne Actors Theatre, founded 1964 in Henrico, VA, where he currently serves as President of the Board. Access the video recording of the panel discussion here.

• Thursday, April 17, 2025, 10:00 am - Gabriel, a True Story of Freedom, highlighting the new musical about the Henrico blacksmith born into slavery in 1776 who planned a rebellion to free over 370,000 enslaved Virginians. Panelists will include author Jerold Solomon and author/composer Ron Klipp from the creative team, who will discuss the show itself, our Media Advisor and radio icon Gary Flowers, who will talk about early African American church practice, and woodcut artist Dennis Winston, who will discuss his creative process to design artwork for the show. Visit the Facebook event page here.

• Thursday, July 17, 2025, 10:00 am - Walking the Line: Protecting Students from Opioid Misuse through the Prevention Power of Theatre, discussing the reboot of the substance misuse prevention play, Walking the Line, originally created in 1989 to address crack cocaine crisis among teens. Panelists TBD.

• Thursday, October 16, 2025, 10:00 am - Revolutionary Fashion: A Colonial Garment Runway Show for America's 250th, showcasing attire worn by peasants to the president during the earliest days of the United States. Panelists tentatively will include Costume Designers Sue Griffin, Marcia Miller Hailey and Keith Walker.