Virginia Peninsula Community College rededicated its theater Saturday evening in a ceremony that would have made its namesake proud. And as with any good performance, it evoked a range of emotions, punctuated by joy, reflection, nostalgia and a sense of relief.
“We’re so excited you’re here. It is my extreme pleasure to welcome you to the newly rebuilt Dr. Mary T. Christian Theatre on the Hampton Campus of Virginia Peninsula Community College,” David Garrett, theater manager, said in his opening remarks to the nearly 400 in attendance. “I’ve often heard it said good things come to those who wait, and I can certainly say this is going to be worth the wait. It is a fantastic, fabulous space and has been worth every second that we have waited. So welcome, welcome, welcome.”
Originally the Dr. Mary T. Christian Auditorium, the space honors a remarkable woman who was an educator, community leader and Virginia delegate. The roof of the old theater collapsed April 5, 2021. The building and campus were closed due to the pandemic, and no one was injured.
“It would be impossible to catalogue all of the incredible ways in which (Dr. Christian) touched the community and changed lives, which, those in the know, is our mission here at Virginia Peninsula Community College,” Garrett said. “We transform lives. We change people’s outcomes and futures. So, as we considered what to name this space, we knew that revisiting Dr. Mary T. Christian’s legacy and having her attached to this building was the right way to go.”
Nearly 23 years to the day of the Jan.15, 2003, original dedication, almost two dozen descendants, including children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, were on hand to celebrate and remember their beloved family member.
Christian’s daughter Benita Toler was unable to attend but expressed her gratitude to the College for keeping the name.
“We are deeply honored by this meaningful gesture and profoundly moved that my mother’s legacy continues to be recognized and celebrated in such a lasting and visible way,” she wrote in an email.
Toler added, “The rededication of a building devoted to the arts is a particularly fitting reflection of her life and values. It stands as a reminder that education is not only about discipline and scholarship, but also about imagination, empathy, and heart.”
Also in attendance were College officials, local dignitaries, community members, students, faculty, staff and alumni, who were treated to dancing and singing performances by VPCC faculty and former students.
In a particularly moving moment, the College presented one of Christian’s granddaughters, Cheryl Smith, with the dedication plaque from the original building. It had survived the roof collapse with minimal damage. A similar plaque will be placed in the renovated facility.
Footage from the 2003 dedication was discovered in the College archives, restored and shown Saturday. In it, Dr. Christian praised God and said she was humbled by the honor.
“I’m fortunate to know that countless men and women who will fill this auditorium that bears my name will be empowered to excel to their fullest potential and strive always for excellence,” she said. “This building is dedicated to all of you. It’s dedicated to the children. It’s dedicated to the families. It’s dedicated to the community that you represent.”
She wanted it to be a place where creativity is expressed. talent is developed and people of all races, ages and cultures can come together for generations.
VPCC President Dr. Towuanna Porter Brannon said that remains the goal.
“We fully intend for the Mary T. Christian Theatre to be the hub for artistic, for social, for cultural and even political expression here in Hampton and across the Peninsula,” she said Saturday night. “This is a place for bold ideas, for shared stories, for spirited dialogue and unforgettable moments like the one that we’ve had tonight.”
Among the changes/upgrades to the new space: 496 seats, an increase of 26; more space at the front of the stage; the orchestra pit has doubled in size and can accommodate a full symphony orchestra; new projection, sound and lighting systems; and more room backstage for costume and prop changes.
The renovation project, designed by RRMM Architects, cost about $17 million and was funded mostly by the Virginia Community College System and insurance.
The theater is in Templin Hall, a 49,143-square-foot education and performing arts building built in 2001. Templin Hall also houses classrooms, laboratories, and faculty and staff offices. Those spaces were unaffected by the roof collapse.