2020 Annual Report

A Note From Our Executive Director

Stacy Shaw, Executive Director

Stacy Shaw, Executive Director

On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff, I invite you to review the remarkable year of both achievement and challenge for the Byrd’s fiscal year July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020. Since my arrival in June, it’s been exciting to learn of the many accomplishments the Byrd Theatre had during this last fiscal year and as a whole.

The year began with the sustained celebration of the Theatre’s 90th anniversary programming and celebratory events garnering media attention and community affection.

We were pleased that we met the extraordinary $250,000 Challenge from The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation with $259,901 in new gifts for the next phase of improvements and program expansion. Programming continued to deliver educational programming, themed film series and special events. Events such as The Big LeByrdski Fest showed growth in participants and support last fall. Holidays at the Byrd were particularly festive with new snow machines and record- breaking attendance. An increase in audience and revenues continued through February.

Then COVID-19 forced the Theatre’s temporary closure. We should acknowledge the Byrd’s innovative and creative response to keep our patrons and our community engaged — much like it did during traumatic times of the past: the Great Depression, the influenza pandemic, World War II and others.

You’ll see noted, the extensive range of virtual offerings from behind-the- scenes tours, special film series and ongoing virtual offerings for patrons. We also found ways to connect with people and when possible bring them back into the theatre safely with private movie parties, marquee messages and a movie lovers’ club. We conducted a major consumer research project to learn about our community and patrons. This work will feed into updated marketing and branding work in the coming year. We also conducted market research to gain perspective and interest on comfort levels to reenter the theatre and what factors would be important. We’ve used this insight to guide our work, such as finding cleaners that kill COVID, updating and cleaning our HVAC system, and creating opportunities for small numbers of people to come enjoy the theatre in socially distanced ways and more.

I am pleased to announce our first public screening is scheduled for November 30 with a maximum audience of 50 people. This first screening sold out in less than 24 hours so we are adding more dates of your favorite Holidays at the Byrd classics. As a non-profit, with your continued financial support we look forward to the time when we can open our doors. I thank you and the entire community for your passion, for your support and love of the Byrd!

Stacy Shaw
Executive Director 

Click or tap each photo below to view its full size and caption.

Programs & Special Events

As the Byrd continued to celebrate 90 years of exceptional cinematic experiences, the second half of 2019 really hit its stride with Family Classics sponsored by Capital One on Saturday mornings with movies for the whole family to enjoy. Big Screen Classics on Wednesday nights and the third Sunday of the month and Monday Marathons on Monday nights.

Q1
JUL-SEP 2019

The new fiscal year started with summer blockbusters. July featured space movies, such as The Martian, Apollo 13 and Independence Day. In August, crowds came in record numbers to see Jurassic Park, Ghostbusters and Jaws.

Fans of Jaws were treated to a pre-screening talk with cinematographer and director Jim Contner, who told stories and shared photographs from the filming of Jaws, one of his first jobs as a cameraman.

Jim Contner’s talk officially kicked off the Byrd’s Filmmaker Series, which welcomes local and national filmmakers to share their films and offer insights for audiences. From private premiers to public talk backs, the Byrd is the place for film in Richmond. The Filmmaker Series continued with Rick Alverson, Richmond native and filmmaker who presented his newest film The Mountain, starring Jeff Goldblum. The screening was followed by a Q&A with Alverson.

September was filled with Harry Potter films—or Potterthon—one of the Byrd’s most popular series. Nine Harry Potter films ran Mondays and Tuesdays throughout the month.

2019 ended on a high note as the Filmmaker Series continued with actor, writer, director and producer Ethan Hawke. The Byrd Theatre was honored to host Ethan Hawke in October for a Q &A and screening of his film Blaze, a biopic about singer songwriter Blaze Foley. Hawke shared with the sold-out crowd his creative processes and offered advice for young artists. Hawke was in the Richmond area filming the upcoming Showtime series The Good Lord Bird, directed and starring Hawke and written by screenwriter and poet Mark Richard, who led the Q&A with Hawke at the Byrd.

Fans love our Horror at the Byrd series every October where we screen dozens of classic and contemporary horror films.

The last Friday of October, the Byrd hosts the annual fundraiser to benefit the restoration of the Theatre’s Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, featuring the 1928 Lon Chaney silent classic The Phantom of the Opera with special guest theater organist Michael Britt.

Wonderful special events included the annual Big LeByrdski in November in partnership with Center of the Universe Brewery. The event has evolved into a weekend festival of all things Dude! The event pulled in regional visitors and continues to be a great fundraiser for the Theatre.

Holidays at the Byrd, our December series, was one of our largest attended December in years. We sold out many shows and met lots of new patrons who came to make memories at the Byrd Theatre. The Holidays at the Byrd experience isn’t complete without Bob Gulledge, on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ, leading holiday sing-a-longs before many of the holiday movies.

Q2
OCT-DEC 2019

Q3
JAN-MAR 2020

2020 started out with record attendance in January. Patrons enjoyed Oscar nominated films, such as Uncut Gems, Dark Waters, Harriet, Joker and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. The Filmmaker Series continued as Jim Contner came back for a reprise talk on the iconic movie The Godfather. Jim is a prolific cinematographer and director and Richmond resident. The crowd loved Jim and his stories!

A March full of Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro movies were interrupted as the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread across the country. Attendance decreased gradually as health concerns increased and the annual FrenchFilm Festival was canceled. The Byrd Theatre closed on March 13 and a new world of virtual programming began.

Like many independent theaters around the country, the Byrd quickly created the Virtual Screening Room, partnering with independent studios to bring new content that couldn’t be seen in theaters or on streaming services. Revenue from these films support the Byrd Theatre and are split with the production company. We even held a Cinematique Virtuelle, a specially curated French Film Series in our Virtual Cinema. As a way to keep patrons engaged with the Byrd Theatre and provide an opportunity to interact with us, we took them into the theatre via Facebook Live! We held five different virtual tours: Projection Booth, History of the Byrd, Architecture of the Byrd, The Wurlitzer Organ and its inner workings, and the magnificent chandelier! We had participants world-wide join us and had thousands of views on each video. They are still available on the Facebook page videos.

Teddy Leinbach, a local documentary filmmaker went virtual in June for an online filmmaker discussion led by board member, Steve Taylor. The film 50 Over was available in the virtual cinema for patrons to view and a portion of the rentals went to support the Byrd Theatre and a portion to a non-profit for children SwingPals in North Carolina.

Q4
APR-JUN 2020

Development News

$250,000 Challenge Grant Met

A special achievement of the 90th anniversary year was surpassing The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation’s $250,000 Challenge to the community. The Challenge was to raise an additional $250,000 from new donors or increase levels of support from loyal donors by December 2019. The public responded with $259,901 raised! The final push was made during December Holidays at the Byrd, the culmination of the 90th anniversary celebration.

More than 460 donors rallied to the Challenge. New donors provided $224,385 or 86% of the total raised. Increased gifts from past donors totaled $35,516.

Matching Gifts came in from a variety of sources: major donors in the community, Byrd Theatre patrons, businesses, civic organizations and other private foundations. The grant and matching funds are supporting a range of needs: Phase Two restoration, further improvements for patrons and program expansion. An initial Challenge from the Parsons Foundation was awarded in 2013 to help establish an infrastructure for the operation and launch Phase One preservation and improvement projects.

Bud and company

Celebrating the dedication of The Reinhart Auditorium, from left to right: Board President Ted Haynes, Bud’s daughter Cynthia Richards, Bud Reinhart and Bud’s son William Reinhart.

Tribute to Myron H. Reinhart

The Byrd Theatre Foundation community lost an extraordinary patron and friend – Myron (Bud) H. Reinhart, who passed away September 3, 2020. A constant advocate and donor to the Byrd, Bud committed a gift of $500,000 in 2018, the largest gift in the Theatre’s history. The gift had a two-fold impact – it greatly reduced the Theatre’s mortgage and enabled refinancing; and it created a reserve fund to support positive change and program growth – key goals in the organization’s Strategic Plan.

In tribute, the Board of Directors named the auditorium The Myron H. Reinhart Auditorium – a fitting legacy. His gentle, constant advocacy of Richmond’s human service organizations, and the arts will have lasting, positive impact on his beloved Richmond community.

A native of St. Louis, Bud was a chemical engineer and moved with his family to Richmond in 1960 to work for E.R. Carpenter Company, the world’s largest manufacturer of comfort cushioning products for furniture, bedding and carpeting. He rose steadily to become President. We commemorate him here and offer our collective condolences to his son, William L. Reinhart of Goochland, Va.; his daughter, Cynthia R. Richards, of New York City; and his grandson, Christopher R. Richards of Brooklyn, NY.

Honor Roll of Donors

The Byrd Theatre Foundation is grateful for the support of so many individuals and organizations for program and operating support from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, as well as major donors to our Phase Two projects. We regret any unintentional error or omissions from this list.

Phase Two Restoration, Capital Improvements and Program Growth

Anonymous (5) • Robert Leroy Atwell and Lucy Williams Atwell Foundation • Debra and Michael Binns • The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation • Joan and Steve Clement • The Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation • Custis Westham Fund of The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia • CultureWorks, Inc. • Eleanor Davenport • Martin Davenport • Durham Foundation • Virginia Edmunds • The Greenway Pendleton Fund of The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia • The Wilbur Moreland Havens Charitable Foundation • Charles and JoLee Kenney • The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation • Mr. and Mrs. Scott Moncure • Marietta McNeil & Samuel Tate Morgan Jr. Morgan Trust, Bank of America • The Pauley Family Foundation • Mr. Myron H. “Bud” Reinhart • The Reinhart Foundation • Mr. Gerald Smith • Barbara and James E. Ukrop Fund of The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia • Virginia Commission for the Arts • The Windsor Foundation Trust • Joanne Verdi

Sponsors—Programs and Events

Capital One • Center of the Universe Brewing • Citizen Burger • Daniel & Company, Inc. • Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market • IdeaWeavers • Geoff McDonald & Associates • MJK Properties • Northbank Partners • Xtra’s Cafe

Special Gifts

Anonymous • Bethany and Michael Beiro In Honor of Bethany and Michael Beiro’s First Wedding Anniversary • Ms. Martha Rhodes • Secco Wine Bar • Steve Taylor • Whole Foods Market

COVID-19 Relief Sources

Art House America Campaign • The Greenway Pendleton Fund of The Community Foundation Serving Richmond and Central Virginia

The Annual Fund

The Balcony Society (Recognizing individual gifts of $500, $1,000, $1,500+)

Sandra S. Apple • Darek and Kelli Atkinson • Guy and Felicity Blundon • Nancy Booker • Ruth and Bill Canaday • Keith and Pam Carney • Carol Caudill • Jean Cleek • Fred Danz • JoAnne Draucker and Jim Thompson • Virginia Edmunds • Bill Gray • Ted and Jean Haynes • Cheryl and David Jennings In Honor of Coleman Jennings • Mr. and Mrs. Michael S. Kennedy • George and Joan Maughan • Joe and Bobby May • The Nanchard Morganson Charitable Fund • Mr. and Mrs. Robert Q. Pierce • Tony and Ginger Pelling • Rick Pleasants • Drs. George and Mildred Pugh • Mr. and Mrs. Robert Q. Rhodes • Beth Schulhof • Matt Shaver • Roger and Christina Shawn • Chris Sorensen • Robert Sprague • Mary Ellen Stumpf • Morton G. and Nancy P. Thalhimer Foundation • Jed and Janice Thomas • Mr. Ben Watson III • Mr. and Mrs. C. Nelson Williams • Jaclyn and Brian Witthoefft • John and Bucci Zeugner

The Promenade ($250-$499)

Matthew Akers In Honor of Matty Akers • Anonymous (3) • Michael Bauer • Rev. Dr. J.P. Blankenship • Stevan H. Brodie In Honor of Grace Brodie • Marjorie Caldwell • Mary L. Colfer • Josee Covington • Ray and Helen Deyerle • Shawn G. Floyd In Honor of Ralph and Ethel Dent • Darren and Linda Gibula • Chris and Cheryl Guedri • Jesse Hartle • The Lumpkin Family Foundation • Betty Mann • Robert J. Meckes • Mike and Debra Ogilvie • Todd Prough • Mr. Daniel Salkovitz • Sugar and Twine • Bob and Holly Ulrich • John Warkenton • Lindsay Welch • Lisa Wickham • Rick and Lane Witthoefft

Patrons ($100-$249)

Norvell and Bill Adamson • Anonymous (3) • Mitch and Sherry Anscher In Honor of Faye and Sonny Moore • Susan Aprahamian • Andrew Aquino • Charley and Sally Ayers • Morgan Beale • Deborah Benner • Scott and Sandi Bergman • Jim Bland • The Honorable and Mrs. Thomas J. Bliley, Jr. • Kathleen and Ryan Bozis • Mr. J. Richard Bragg • Michael Broda • Jacquelyn (Jackie) K. Brooks • Sarah Carney • Mary and Orion Colfer • Frona and Alan Colker • Ms. Harriett Condrey • Jamie Coomer • Matthew Cullen • Chas and Martha Davidson • Julie Deaver • Adam Diaz • Crystal Dickinson • Patricia Doniger • Kimberly Failon • Robert Farley • Melissa Ferrell • Colleen Flynn • Alisha and Pete Gallini • Betsy Gardner • Dr. Ed Griggs • Kenton Hambrick • Cadence and David Heden • Leah and Adam Henschen • Carol Hofer • Diana Hollett • Beth and Lowrey Holthaus • Guy and Marion Horsley • Lynn Ivey • Mr. Paul Jaffeux • Aranzazu Jarque Llamazares • Mary G. Jefferson • Michael Kremer • Ellen and Pettus LeCompte • Mrs. Josie Toth Linen • Beth Marschak • Mr. C. Ralph Martin • Michael Martz • Scott and Karen Meardon • Amy Melnick-Scharf • Ms. Deborah Michael • Mr. W.F. Michie, III • Anna Marie and John Mizell, Jr. In Honor of Grant and April Mizell • Val Murphey • Lynn Murphy • Felipe Nascimento • Lisa Nelson • Nancy News • William Nordt • Lori Parker • Margaret Pfohl • Keithley Pierce • Tedd and Liz Povar • Ralph and Mary Puccinelli • Michael Raff • Linda L. Redmond, PhD • Susan Reed • Deborah and John Ritz • Garrett Roberts and Lauren Methena In Honor of All the Hardworking Staff at the Byrd! Thank You! • Mary Rosenthal • Andrew Russell • Kay and Jim Schlembach • Dorothy Schoeneman • Lawson Shelton • Matthew Shifflett • Maria and John Shugars • Dustin Shuman • Thomas and Linda Singleton Driscoll • Wendy Sprout • Laura Stewart • James Sties • Samuel and Jane Straus • Alan Case Stringer • Karen and Jerry Swerling • Dee Thomas In Honor of Many Fond Memories - Past and Current - of the Byrd Theatre • Amy Thornburg • Kenneth Timlin • Tom and MJ Timmerman • James Walker • Merideth and Ley Watson • Sue Welch • Robert and Cheryl Wentz • David and Cindy Wofford • Joe Yates • Victoria Yoder

Friends (Up to $99)

Laura Adamson In Honor of Guy Adamson • Susan Adler • Leslie Aitken • Alex Aloise • Anthony Ambrogi • William Andrews • Anonymous (12) • Liz Aucello • Jon Baber • Steve Bailey • Brooke Bates • Glen Besa and Tyla Matteson • James and Sue Bland In Honor of Jayne Westerkamp • William Bohannon • Loretta Booker • Eugenia H. Borum • Marissa Boyce • Angela Bullock • Mary Burruss • Carole Burton • Jamie and Ann Call • Benjamin Campbell • Nancy Campbell • Pamela R. Campen In Honor of Donald D. Campen, Jr. • Paul Canady • Tiffany Cardoza • Honor Carver • Beth Cashin • Wayne Castleberry • Samantha Charlet • Christopher Cheatham, Sr. • Susan B. Chiarello • Kristin Clarke In Honor of Bob the Organ Player • Macon Clarkson • Will Clough • Mike Colligon • Shelley Colon • Kate Colver • Mr. Carl Craig • Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Curley • Caroline Daniel • Janet Darden • Michael and Tommie Deaner • Linda Decker • Sarah Dehart • Vicki Douglas • Jacqueline Dwyer • Diana Eadie • Belinda Early • Norman Eddleton • Suzanne Eller • Mark Elliott • Lyn Emory • Stacey Erlenbach • Jim Eure • Jay Evans • Debbie Fagan • Mary Fain • Welby Whiting Fairlie • Sarah Fernald • Kevin Flores • Amber Foster • Ms. Mary Foust • Robert Fowler • Melanie Friend • Sharon D. Fuller In Honor of Todd Lee Anne Fuller • Patricia Gallagher • Lizette Gecel • Chris Geen • Karen Gerard • Joseph and Emily Gianfortoni • Bonnie Gibson • Zach Gibson • Greta Gill • Holly Gordon • Bruce Granger • Albert Green • Sarah Groat • Barry Hall • Drs. Jon and Linda Halstead • Nicholas Hamby • Ann Hancock • Sarah Hand • Ezekiel Handelman • Alex Harbison • Kelly Harrison • Brian Hayes • Christina Helmke • Lauren Henderson • Susan Herzick • Lisa Hicks • Sharon J. Hill • Lisa Hinton • Deborah Horan • Virginia Hudson • Jeff Irvine • Anne Jewell • April Johnson • Eric Johnston • Ms. Marion Jordan • Monica Kauffman • Alex Keisch • Sonya Kibler • Jennifer Kirby • Lauren Knowles • Tracy Labin • Lila Lacroix • Al and Bev Lacy • Richard Lahey • B. Lamb • Michelle Landis • Julie and Bill Langan • Brandon Laroussini • Ronald Larson • John Lero • Matthew Logan and Margaret Reed • L. Lucas • Ms. Catherine Lukaszewicz • Diane Major • Cheryl Marschak • Kathleen Martin • Susan Martin • John Thomas Matthews • Elisa Maurice • Joe McAlhany • Anne McCracken • Laura McKenzie • Melissa McReynolds • Jessie Mejias • Judy Melchiorre • Kristina Meyer • Lisa Miles • David Mills and Jennifer McClellan • Katie Moore • Kevin and Jeanine Mooren • Sherri Morris • Mr. William Motley, Jr. • Mr. and Mrs. Frank F. Mountcastle • Reid Mowbray • Steve Murden • Sean Murray • Traci Naff • George and Nilsa Nan • John Neering • Bethany Novak • Deborah and Patrick Nowicki • J. O`Neill • Joshua Octaviani • Meghna Ostasiewski • Odette Ovies • Courtney Paetzold • Bill Painter • Robert Petrera • Pamela Pike • Roy Plunkett • Therese Podgorski • Bob Podstepny • Phil Pollack and Jeannie Pilant • Joy Prickett • Melissa Pritchard • Adam Rabung • Deanne Ralston and Andre Bailey • Juliana Rasnic • William Reckner • Rebecca Reed In Honor of Margaret Reed • Jacob Regal • Brandon Rice • Phil Rippke • Beth Robbins • Natalie Robbins • Kim Roche • Leo Rohr • Jennie Romero • Annamarie Rossi • Laura Rowan • Lois Rowland • Arwen Russell • Michael Savino • Pamela Schalow • Hannah Scheren • Gretchen Schultz • Marc Seccia • Ron Seel • Julia Seward Brian Shaw • Kendall J. Shaw, Jr. • Harold Shears • Jamie Shewan • Kathi Shiff • Theresa G. Shortt • Jennifer Simonpietri • Susan Smart • Joshua Son • Sharon Souther • Robert Spiers • Cannon Spotswood • Elizabeth A. Stevenson • Cathleen Studdard • Brittany Tate • Mr. Derek Tolagian • Ms. Cheryl Towner • Sergei Troubetzkoy • Clare Trow • Robert Tuck • Kimberly Tucker • Rob and Anne Turnbull • Stephen Twente • Vincent Tyler • Joanne Carneal Verdi and Gene Payne In Honor of Bernice Taylor • Cox Buddy Viergever • Carla and Jack Vipperman • Brittany Waddell • The Wagner Family • Sheila Walters • Julia Warren • Harold Weaver • Dorinda Wegener • Don West • Bridget and Michael Westhoven • David Williams • Christie Wisotzki • Cheryl Wittman • Carter Wolfe • Brett and Felicia Woodruff • Colin Woodward • Ms. Janet Worsham • Ning Wu • Stacey Wyatt • Eric Yellin • Joy Zeh • Sam Zogran

Business and Industry Partners

Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund • The Benevity Community Impact Fund • Center of the Universe Brewery • Daniel and Company, Inc. • Dominion Foundation Matching Grant Program • Federal Home Loan Mortgage Company • Genworth Foundation • Hardywood Park Craft Brewery • McKesson Foundation • Richmond Photo Booth • Target Charitable Giving • U.S. Bank Foundation • Wells Fargo Community Support Campaign

In-Kind Supporters

Vincent Cannizzaro • Allen Cavedo • CBS Channel 6 – Virginia This Morning • Center of the Universe Brewery • Hardywood Park Craft Brewery • Jean Haynes • Phyllis Katz, Esquire • Dan Mack • Meda Lane, Lane & Associates • Jack Nugent • Richmond Magazine • River City Roll • Mary Ellen Stumpf, Stumpf & Associates • Virginia Craft Beer Magazine • Paul Venuto • Gibson Worsham • WRIR

Facebook Donors

Karen Andrews • Mary-Margaret Cash • Will Clough • David Clough • Vilkas D’Angelo-Horvath • Mina Douglas • Rochelle Edwards • Jill Ferguson • Colleen Flynn • Jean Gill • Jeff Gregory • Joseph Ignatius • Jo Kiser • Julie and Bill Langan • Seless Lautzenhiser • Catherine Lukaszewicz • Mariah Macon • Amanda Maguire • Alicia Marie • Michelle Martin • James McGuffey • Maura Meinhardt • Lauren Methena • Nell Murphy • Gary Parks • Michelle Partrea • Cait Rose • Cory Shaman • James Shelton • Page Slattengren • Caleb Taylor • David Thomason • Camille Trejo • Nancy Walter • John Zaruba

FY 2019-2020: By the Numbers

The Byrd Theatre Foundation Financial Overview for July 2019 through June 2020

Income
Earned Income ($175,162.31) • Contributed Income ($216,902.82) *CARES Act Funding - PPP Grant ($51,246.00) *CARES Act Funding - EIDL Funding ($117,600.00)
Total Income ($560,911.13)

*Net profit due to contributions and CARES funding.

Expenses
Payroll ($101,389.24) • Mortgage ($54,562.56) • Staff Recruitment ($55.00) • Office Supplies ($555.13) • Development & Communications ($53,014.63) • Building & Theatre Operations ($125,964.38) • Studio Fees & Concessions ($65,209.50) • Sales, Meals & Admission Tax ($8,340.28) • Credit Card Charges ($6,927.60) • Printing ($5,101.10) • Special Events & Marketing ($75,703.67)
Total Expense $496,823.09

Mission

To expand the big screen experience, celebrate the art of cinema, and preserve Virginia’s grand motion picture palace.

Vision

To elevate the Byrd’s landmark position among American theaters as a center for film that continues to provide the broadest possible public access to exceptional cinematic experiences.

Board of Directors—Fiscal Year 2019-2020

Officers
Ted Haynes, President • Bill Gray, First Vice President • Martin Davenport, Second Vice President • Susan Reed, Secretary • Ben Cronly, Treasurer • Gibson Worsham, Immediate Past President

Directors
Andrew Aquino • Felicity Blundon • Richard Cross • Sharon Kelley • Nancy News • Beth Schulhof • Steph Shaw • John Spacek • Mary Ellen Stumpf • Steven Taylor • Bob Ulrich • Michael Westfall • Nelson Williams

How to Support the Byrd