Hurrah Timeline
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Through The Years
While the primary purpose is education, Hurrah strives to go beyond simply teaching dramatic skills, endeavoring to instill in our students and audiences a full and enduring appreciation of the theatre. Our professional quality work is provided to the public at affordable prices in order that a wide diversity of the community might be able to attend live theatrical productions.
Recognized repeatedly by local and regional media and theatrical organizations, The Hurrah Players have received many awards for our creative and innovative work. Our students have been invited to perform in Washington, D.C., New York City, Disney World, Pearl Harbor and London. In keeping with our policy of public service to the citizens of Hampton Roads, Hurrah students are pleased to perform for numerous civic groups, community organizations, and local charities each year.
Since its incorporation in 1984, The Hurrah Players have been, and will continue to be, a shining example to both our students and our community that theatre arts can be a vehicle not only for educational enrichment, but for the emotional and social well-being of the participants as well.
1984
January 1, 1984
Hurrah Players Incorporated (HUgh RAiford Copeland = HURRAH). Classes were held in the lobby of The Riverview Theatre, at Old Dominion University and the basement of Ghent United Methodist Church.
1993
January 1, 1993
Loyal volunteers renovated an old Brinks Security office/ warehouse on 935 Woodrow Ave. in Ghent to include classrooms, office space, a Rehearsal Hall and a small Black Box Theatre. Performances were held at Willett Hall, and Virginia Beach Pavilion.
2001
January 1, 2001
Hurrah helped open the renovated T.C.C. Roper Performing Arts Center on 340 Granby St. in Norfolk with The Wiz. Hurrah continues to produce many of their main-stage shows at The Roper Center.
2009
June 1, 2009
As the company continued to grow, both in size and caliber – it soon became clear it was time to establish a permanent home. A Capital Campaign was launched and a building search began. In June 2009, The Hurrah Players purchased their first permanent home: the historic Old Norfolk Academy building on 485 St. Paul’s Blvd. in Downtown Norfolk.
2010
April 1, 2010
After several months of renovations, Hurrah moved into the new space, complete with two large Rehearsal Halls, a Student Resource Center, a centrally located Box Office, costume and prop storage, and a 100 seat performance venue. Made possible by The Patricia and Douglas Perry Foundation, in April 2010 Hurrah dedicated their home performance space as The Perry Family Theatre. Hurrah continued to rent warehouse space for set/prop design and storage.
2013
January 1, 2013
A second Capital Campaign is launched to purchase a permanent space for the set/prop design & storage. After an exhaustive search, Hurrah Players purchased property in Norfolk’s emerging Arts District. Located on 112 – 116 W. Wilson Ave, this enormous 12,000 sqft building would not only provide crucial space for the set and props, it would allow Hurrah to expand their education/outreach programs and performance space.
2014
January 1, 2014
Renovations to the scene shop/warehouse portion of the building are completed and the scene shop is relocated from the rental warehouse to its permanent home.
2017
May 20, 2017
After another successful Capital Campaign, renovations are completed on Wilson Ave. On May 20, a ribbon cutting ceremony is held to formally dedicate The Hugh R. Copeland Center. The Copeland Center, in addition to the set/prop shop, houses a Box Office, and two education centers. The Perry Family Theatre is also rededicated to this location and serves as a beautiful, multi-functional space for Hurrah and the community to enjoy.
2020
January 1, 2020
Hurrah launched the “Believe in the Dream” Capital Campaign, a bold initiative to expand the organization’s footprint and creative opportunities for young artists. The campaign’s centerpiece was the creation of the Nusbaum Family TV & Film Academy, envisioned as a state-of-the-art facility for youth training in television, film, and digital media. The campaign also supported important updates to Hurrah’s existing spaces, ensuring that students could continue to learn, perform, and create in a professional environment.
2022–2024 — Costume Workshop & Storage Project
October 1, 2022
In Fall 2022, architectural drawings were created for a new Costume Workshop and Storage space at The Hugh R. Copeland Center. During the first half of 2023, Hurrah downsized and reorganized set storage to make room for the new area. Construction to section off the warehouse space began in July 2023, and shelving was installed in September 2023. Hurrah received Final Inspection approval for the Costume Workshop on January 29, 2024. The transfer of costumes from St. Paul’s Boulevard to the new storage area in the Copeland Center began in February 2024 and was completed in Spring 2024. The expanded workspace now provides a safe, efficient, and inspiring environment for designing, building, and maintaining costumes—supporting the artistic excellence of every production.
2024 — Construction of the TV & Film Academy
July 1, 2024
Construction began on the future Nusbaum Family TV & Film Academy in Norfolk’s dynamic NEON District. The project transformed the former Glass Wheel Studio on W. Olney Street into a modern, youth-focused production hub. At the same time, renovations at the Hugh R. Copeland Center continued, ensuring the Performing Arts Academy remained a thriving space for classes, rehearsals, and community engagement. Together, these projects laid the groundwork for a unified campus where performance and media arts could flourish side by side.
2024–2025: A New Chapter in the NEON District
October 1, 2024
In the fall of 2024 The Hurrah Players completed the transition of all operations from the long-time St. Paul’s Blvd. building to its expanded NEON District campus, bringing every aspect of performance, education and production under one creative umbrella. In January 2025 Hurrah welcomed its first students to the Performing Arts Academy in its new home on W. Olney Road, and celebrated the official launch of the Nusbaum Family TV & Film Academy: a brand-new, state-of-the-art sister academy to the Performing Arts Academy. Together the two academies form a vibrant, collaborative campus where students can explore both onstage and behind-the-scenes disciplines. From acting, voice, and dance to cinematography, directing, editing, and sound design, Hurrah now offers an integrated learning experience that nurtures the full spectrum of performing and media arts. This move marks not only a physical transformation but a powerful new phase in Hurrah’s enduring mission to Believe in the Dream.
Today
August 4, 2025
With two thriving academies in the NEON District, The Hurrah Players continues to inspire, educate, and empower young artists. The Performing Arts Academy and the TV & Film Academy together offer students the opportunity to perform, create, and grow in a professional, supportive environment that celebrates imagination, collaboration, and lifelong learning. Hurrah remains a cornerstone of the Hampton Roads arts community—lighting the way for generations of dreamers to come.
Grateful Hurrah Players Highlight
Hurrah gave me a purpose and helped me discover my passion. I had such a sense of fulfillment at a young age because of The Hurrah Players and Hugh Copeland. It set the track for my career and life.
Through kindness, acceptance and love, Hurrah became a place most of us call home and people we call family. I can never replace the collection of incredible memories I have or the lessons I have learned. I believe anyone who joins will inevitably begin to feel this way and become part of our family.
