{{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox venue | name = The NorVa | image = Marquee march 29 2019.jpg | image_size = 250px | image_caption = Marquee of venue (c.2019) | nickname = | address = 317 Monticello Ave<br />Norfolk, VA 23510-2407 | location = Downtown Norfolk | coordinates = | mapframe = no | type = | event = | broke_ground = | built = | opened = November 27, 1922<ref name="Virginian-Pilot">{{cite web |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/doc/nb/image/page/v2:146D908D09F2E7FE@EANX-NB-164D5B0BE3661836@2423385-164BB328642B74DB@57-164BB328642B74DB@?p=AMNEWS |title=Unknown |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=November 26, 1922 |website=The Virginian-Pilot|page=58 |publisher= |access-date=August 7, 2018|via=NewsBank |url-access=subscription}}</ref> | reopened = April 28, 2000 | renovated = 1998 | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = Anschutz Entertainment Group | former_names = Norva Theatre {{small|(1922-80)}} | cost = $500,000<br />{{small|(${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|500000|1921}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars{{inflation-fn|US}})}} | seating_type = | seating_capacity = 1,450 | website = {{URL|http://www.thenorva.com|Venue Website}} }} {{advert|date=May 2015}}
'''The NorVa''' is a performing venue located in Norfolk, Virginia, the name being a syllabic abbreviation of the city and state of its location.
==About== The theatre was the brainchild of local music venue entrepreneurs Bill Reid and Rick Mersel, who have also developed the Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion and have ties to the development of Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://search.cityguide.aol.com/hamptonroads/bars/the-norva/v-63782 |title=The NorVa in Hampton Roads, VA |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=May 9, 2008 |website=AOL City Guide |publisher= |access-date=August 22, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509102223/http://search.cityguide.aol.com/hamptonroads/bars/the-norva/v-63782 |archive-date=May 9, 2008}}</ref> In 2014, the NorVa was acquired by Anschutz Entertainment Group.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2014/10/06/the-nationals-owners-bow-out/ |title=The National's owners bow out |last1=Schwartz |first1=Michael |last2=Thompson |first2=Michael |date=October 6, 2014 |website=Richmond BizSense |publisher= |access-date=April 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427230340/http://www.richmondbizsense.com/2014/10/06/the-nationals-owners-bow-out/ |archive-date=April 27, 2016}}</ref>
The original venue opened in 1922<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/3705 |title=Norva Theatre |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=August 2018 |website=Cinema Treasures |publisher= |access-date=November 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824065755/http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/3705 |archive-date=August 24, 2018}}</ref> as a 2,000-seat motion picture and live entertainment (vaudeville) theater. It continued as a movie theater into the 1970s. The building served as home to the Downtown Athletic Club from 1980 until 1998.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/history/article_0b1e4c46-c58a-11e8-969a-8f845826910d.html |title=In 1922, the NorVa began its near-century life showing silent films |last1=Clayton |first1=Cindy |date=October 8, 2018 |website=The Virginian-Pilot |publisher= |access-date=November 5, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20221105092447/https://www.pilotonline.com/history/article_0b1e4c46-c58a-11e8-969a-8f845826910d.html |archive-date=November 5, 2022}}</ref> The NorVa reopened as a concert venue on April 28, 2000, with James Brown performing the inaugural show.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shutter16.com/the-norva-theater-soon-to-celebrate-its-centennial/ |title=The NorVa Theater soon to celebrate its Centennial |last1=Gubitosi |first1=Frederick |date=October 2017 |website=Shutter 16 |publisher= |access-date=November 5, 2022|archive-url=https://archive.today/20221105093314/http://www.shutter16.com/the-norva-theater-soon-to-celebrate-its-centennial/ |archive-date=November 5, 2022}}</ref>
==Movie theater history== * Built by The Johnson Construction Co. * Operated by the W.W.V. (Wells, Wilmer, and Vincent) Co., Inc. * Part of the Wells entertainment group which included Granby Theatre and Wells Theatre. * William S. Wilder was the first manager before opening The Colley Theater (Naro Expanded Cinema) in 1936, and The Commodore Theater in 1945. * Newspaper articles of the time used "theater" and "theatre" interchangeably. * Pipe organ manufactured by The Robert Morton Co. * Norva Concert Orchestra Director - Prof. Charles Borjes * Original Organist - Jack Griffith * Chairs furnished by Virginia School Supply Co. of Richmond, Virginia.
'''1922''' * November 27 - Bright Eyes and The Man Who Saw Tomorrow were the first films.<ref name="Virginian-Pilot" /> * November 30 - The Sin Flood
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080420174735/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/20200609/the_125plus_people_places_and_things_ruling_the_rock__roll_universe/print The 125-Plus People, Places and Things Ruling the Rock & Roll Universe, Rolling Stone (2008)] *[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-best-music-venues-in-america-readers-choice-44081/norva-in-norfolk-va-31781/ The Best Music Venues in America: Readers' Choice, Rolling Stone (2013)]
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Music venues of Virginia}} {{Anschutz}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|36|51|0.7|N|76|17|22|W|display=title}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:NorVa, The}} Category:Theatres in Virginia Category:Music venues in Virginia Category:Buildings and structures in Norfolk, Virginia Category:Culture of Norfolk, Virginia Category:1922 establishments in Virginia Category:Anschutz Corporation Category:Downtown Norfolk, Virginia Category:Theatres completed in 1922