As theater and technical director of the 400-seat venue where the stars of Vaudeville once performed, the refurbished building is now home to a thriving community theater and professional performances.

The theater thrived for years through Vaudeville, the silent picture and talkie eras and saw stars like Clara Bow, Vilma Banky, Gene Autry and Minnie Pearl come through its doors.

By the early 1970s the building became abandoned.

Then came an interest in the theatre and how it could fit in with the town's objectives of economic development and quality of life. “When you talk about what it takes to get businesses they look at hospitals and schools,” Wright said. “In the top five is what do you have for entertainment. Mayor Earl Horne wanted to have a place to do local and professional shows.”

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It took 10 years, but eventually the restoration project was completed and the Colonial opened in January of 2011.

“My understanding is there were no local tax dollars,” Wright said at the venue last week. “They solicited business,” organizations and private donors.

The key to the revival of the Colonial, Wright said, is the community. “We can't do it without the community and businesses. Mayor Horne and the community have done a fantastic job. We can't over emphasize how much we thank the public. You've got to get businesses to support you.”

Then there was the support from the South Hill Chamber of Commerce which actively promotes the theater, Wright said.

For Wright, his job at the Colonial, which he has had since the reopening of the venue, comes natural. “I've done a lot of things,” he said, from serving in the military to being an independent technical technician and working as a job coach.

He has directed shows at Lakeland and got his his first taste for performance in college. “I just like working with people and enjoy seeing young people grow in theater. There's great local talent here. We are blessed.”

Through the Colonial Actors Theatre Society the group, known as CATS, does five in-house shows a year and then books four to five professional shows each year.

Planning is what makes the venue work. “We're already working on the 2017 season. We have to book way out. All the royalties have to be paid. We pay ASCAP quarterly. We couldn't do it without the community and local sponsors.”

While the theater might not be the official hub of the town, it plays a role in it, said Wright. “There are parks, we've got a new hospital coming, Mayor Horne and the chamber. Business is booming.”

The Colonial's 2015 season is coming to a close with performances of Oklahoma in October and The Homecoming scheduled in December by CATS.

The professional schedule comes to a close with Leo Days: A Tribute to Elvis on September 19 and Jason Petty's Honky-Tonk Holidays show in November.

The Elvis tribute with Days, who has been heralded as the country's top Elvis impersonator, will be his only East Coast performance, Wright said.

The Colonial is also available for rentals. “We can handle business meetings. We've had quite a few weddings here.”

Wright has been overwhelmed with the support of the venue since it reopened. “I have to pinch myself. This is my dream job, but you've got to get the businesses to support you. You've got to involve local people, get businesses behind you. You've got to get the financial backing.”

Lauren Epps is the chief operating officer of the Colonial and started working in the box office in 2012.

There are several things that make the theater work, she said, and one of them was the passion to see the venue reopen. “There were only a handful of Vaudeville theaters still standing in Virginia. We're quite fortunate to have people who decided to keep it as part of our history.”