Bruce Miller is a longstanding leader of professional theatre in Virginia. In 1975, he co-founded Theatre IV with Phil Whiteway as Virginia’s first professional children’s theatre. He served as Founding Artistic Director of Theatre IV from 1975 until 2012. In 2001, Barksdale Theatre entered into strategic collaboration with Theatre IV, and Bruce assumed the Artistic Directorship of both companies. In 2012, Theatre IV and Barksdale merged to form Virginia Repertory Theatre, with Bruce as Founding Artistic Director. In 2016, at age 65, Bruce transitioned into the advisory role of Founding Producer. In 2019, he left Virginia Rep to serve as Executive Director of the Perkinson Center for the Arts and Education in Chester, a position he held from ground breaking through completion of construction in August 2020. In 2023, he joined the team that founded ATLAS Partnership as Senior Advisor.
Bruce has authored 46 plays for young audiences, including Hugs and Kisses, which celebrated in 2023 its 40th year as Virginia’s principal child sexual abuse prevention/early intervention program. He also wrote Buffalo Soldier, which was the first play in U. S. history to be presented professionally inside the Pentagon, as a morale booster after 9/11.
In recognition of his work, Bruce has received:
Virginia’s Governor’s Award for the Arts (Gov. Tim Kaine),
the Commissioner’s Award from the U. S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (Sec. Donna Shalala),
the first Excellence in Instruction Award from the Virginia Board of Education and the Virginia Commission for the Arts,
the Voice of the University Award from The University of Richmond (his alma mater),
the Together for Children Award from the Virginia Federation of Woman’s Clubs,
the Certificate of Excellence from Richmond’s 15th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration,
the Theresa Pollack Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts,
and Richmonder of the Year honors from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
In 2000, he was named one of “The 100 Most Influential Richmonders of the 20th Century” by STYLE Weekly.
Bruce is married to acclaimed visual artist, Terrie Powers. They are the proud parents of the Rev. Hannah Miller, Pastor of Faith Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs, and Curtis Miller, a leading sound engineer on Broadway. Bruce and Terrie live in Bon Air.