Attending The Forum

An evening at The Forum begins at 7:00 PM when the doors open at the Altria Theater.

Talented musicians perform prior to the program and during intermission. Past performers range from local favorites like the Bellevue Rhythmaires, to school groups like the VSU Gospel Chorale, to world music like the Saltanah Ensemble.

Our programs begin promptly at 8:00 PM with a performance of the national anthem. As a courtesy to others, those who arrive late will not be seated in the theater once the program has started.

After opening remarks and a video by Cream Studio, our speaker or panelists present their perspectives in a speech or moderated discussion on the topic of the evening. Forum speakers expand our horizons by presenting a variety of unique perspectives and viewpoints. Panelists stimulate conversation about current events and the critical issues of our time. Presenters enlighten, entertain, and inspire curiosity in the minds of everyone in the room.

For most programs, we then take a 15-minute intermission to collect questions from the audience, which are reviewed by the evening’s moderator and Forum staff, via Slido. Check the evening’s program book for information on how to submit a question. Slido allows all users to vote for questions to increase their likelihood of being selected. Improve the odds of your question being asked by making it thoughtful and succinct, and include your name.

After intermission, we pose these questions to our guest(s). Speakers are often remarkably candid in answering your questions, revealing new insights into themselves and their subject matter.

The Forum concludes around 10:00 PM.

All of The Richmond Forum’s programs take place at the beautifully restored Altria Theater located at 6 N Laurel Street, Richmond, VA 23220.

Subscribers view the program live from the 3,600-seat theater space and 840 additional Simulcast seats in the theater’s ballroom, or from anywhere in the world with an online subscription.

Parking

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Parking is available at the VCU Main Street deck across from the theater, with entrances on Laurel Street and Cherry Street. It costs $10 at the deck or $8 in advance via VCU Click&Park. The parking deck accepts credit card payments only.

Subscribers often find the use of ride-sharing services like Uber or Lyft a convenient way to avoid parking challenges downtown.

Security

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All guests will be subject to a voluntary security search through the use of walk-through magnetometers and hand searches of bags and coats. The search is voluntary because the guest can refuse; however, the refusing guest will not be permitted entry. Large bags, backpacks, and firearms or weapons of any kind are not permitted. The theater has a no-re-entry policy; individuals who enter the theater with an admission ticket and then leave the theater will not be allowed to re-enter.

Cameras, Cell Phones, & Recording Equipment

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Presentations may not be recorded or photographed by any means for any purpose. Please silence all electronic devices during the program.

Food & Drink

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Concessions are sold in the ground floor cafe area to be enjoyed before the program and during intermission. Beverages without ice are allowed in the theater, but food is not permitted.

Accessibility

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Sennheiser MobileConnect, an application that allows you to utilize your phone as an assistive listening device, and GalaPro, which allows closed captioning to be received on your phone, are available to all patrons. The theater also has stethoset receivers and T-Coil hearing aid- and cochlear implant-compatible pendant receivers available. Devices and information on all these options are available at the Concierge Desk in the Box Office Lobby.

Should you need assistance or ADA seating, please get in touch with us before the program at (804) 330-3993 or info@richmondforum.org

Simulcast Room

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The Simulcast Room is located in the theater’s spacious ballroom. Once you have entered the theater, head towards the stairs and look for directional signage to point you in the right direction. The Simulcast Room is fully accessible via elevator.

The Simulcast Room offers general admission seating in padded banquet chairs (all with a clear view of the four large HD screens), conveniently located concession stands and restrooms, and area carpeting for comfort and excellent acoustics.

What do I do if I Can’t Attend?

If you are a subscriber and are unable to attend a program, please donate your tickets back to The Richmond Forum. This will ensure that no seats will sit empty for the program, and provide subscribers in the Simulcast Room and online the opportunity to upgrade their seats into the theater. Because The Richmond Forum is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, you will receive an acknowledgement of your tax-deductible donation for any tickets you return.

Can I resell my tickets?

Due to the high-profile nature of our speakers and the security surrounding many of our programs, advertising or otherwise publicizing Richmond Forum tickets for sale is strictly prohibited. If you are unable to attend a program — and can’t find friends or family members who would love to attend in your place — you may donate your tickets back to The Richmond Forum for a tax credit.

Review our terms and conditions.

Help, I lost my tickets!

If you know that you have misplaced your tickets before noon on the day of the event, please call The Richmond Forum at (804) 330-3993, ext. 1, and indicate that you need to have duplicate tickets waiting for you at Will Call in the Altria Theater Box Office on the Main Street side. Will Call opens at 7:00 PM on Forum night. If it’s after noon when you realize there’s a problem, simply come to Will Call as soon as you arrive at the theater, show us your ID, and we will issue you duplicate tickets.

What happens if there is Inclement Weather?

Should bad weather ever require us to reschedule or cancel an event, we will get the word out via this website, emails to our subscribers, our Facebook page, a message on our office voicemail, and by notifying local television and radio stations and The Richmond Times-Dispatch.

How do I Upgrade my Seats?

Using the Ticket Marketplace in the Portal, all subscribers have the opportunity to upgrade to more desirable seats in the theater on a program-by-program basis, should any become available through subscriber ticket donation. These seats are only made available to other subscribers, including Simulcast and online subscribers. They are not available to the general public.

How does the Ticket Marketplace work?

The Ticket Marketplace opens at 7:00 AM the Monday before each program and closes at 5:00 PM on program day. All donated seats will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you do not see seats in the section you are looking for, check back later in the week as tickets are continuously added as they are made available.

Log in to the Portal and follow the link to the Ticket Marketplace. Select the current program and then choose the section of the theater in which you are looking for seats.

Follow the instructions after you complete your transaction to access your new tickets. You can either print them immediately or download them to scan from your phone at the theater.

Theater & Simulcast Subscribers: For each of your original seats that you would like to upgrade, you will need to select a new seat to swap. Once you have made your selection, submit your order. The price of the upgrade is the difference between your current seat value and the value of the new seat. Your original tickets will be voided.

Online Subscribers: Select up to four seats in the theater and submit your order. The price of the upgrade is the per-program value of your selected seats minus $26—the per-program value of your online subscription.