Preserving the authenticity of its 125-year-old building while forging ahead with an impressive list of contemporary performances, the new Infinity Music Hall in Norfolk is a bit like a time machine. The brainchild of music enthusiast Dan Hincks, the Hall opened late last fall and has been luring tune lover from around the region. Hincks fills the sta
ge with all sorts of performances: rock, jazz, blues, classical, choral, not to mention some comedy routines and lectures. But the real headliner is the theater itself.
The space holds 300, but it’s gorgeous, elegant, and has a beautifully restored proscenium stage—that is, a large detailed arch frames the stage—that is worth a trip in itself. The craftsmanship of the original design provides superior acoustics and an expansive feel to what is actually a relatively small space. The hardwood floor and tidy old wooden and velvet fold-down seats reside below a large curving balcony set with café tables and a bar. A bistro will open around May 1—with a full bar and “creative cuisine with a twist usually locally procured food,” they report as of early April. Until then you can already eat and drink while taking in the show.
A list of May and June events give a sense of the eclectic scheduling of this gem of a theater. Starting it off May 1 is singer-songwriter Paula Cole, the American Bandstand phenom The Buckinghams, vocalist Janis Ian, swing-era Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, rockers Eddie Money, Dicky Betts, and Dave Mason, Spyro Gyra, the Gin Blossoms, and a slew more. With show details visit infinityhall.com.
