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The venue

About Rives Theatre

Rives Theatre in Martinsville, Virginia, has a storied past as a home for live performance, film, and community programming. Opened as a 1930s playhouse, it later served as a twin movie venue and a live-music hub before being renamed Rives Theatre. The building was destroyed by fire on September 8, 2019 and subsequently demolished; as of 2026, it has not been rebuilt. Today, the spirit of Rives lives on through Rives on the Road, a series of pop-up performances held at various venues around Martinsville-Henry County. This page provides practical, non-pushy details to help you plan visits and experiences related to Rives’ legacy, including seating history, parking, transportation options, and nearby hotels and dining. We’ve got you covered with trusted local resources and convenient access guidance.

Historical context: The Rives Theatre historically offered standing room for about 275, seated capacity around 250, with roughly 180 permanent seats cited in historical records. It served as a community anchor for live music and Arts at the Rives. Since the 2019 fire, there is no fixed home venue; Rives on the Road brings performances to multiple sites such as Forest Park, Bassett Train Depot, and the Heritage Event Center, allowing residents and visitors to experience shows in familiar Martinsville locations.

  • Seating & venue layout: Historically flexible layouts to accommodate live music and cinema. Modern seating specifics are not applicable to a fixed location due to the venue’s current status, so please check event-specific seating when booking via our affiliate partners.
  • Parking: Local parking around downtown Martinsville, with street parking and nearby lots. Check on-site directions for each Rives on the Road event location.
  • Transportation: Piedmont Area Regional Transit (PART) provides fare-free bus service within Martinsville-Henry County, with routes serving Uptown Martinsville and key stops. If you’re traveling from outside the area, consider rideshare options in addition to local transit.
  • Hotels nearby:
    • Hampton Inn Martinsville — 50 Hampton Drive, Martinsville, VA 24112
    • Quality Inn of Martinsville — 1895 Virginia Avenue
    • Comfort Inn Martinsville — 378 Commonwealth Blvd W
    We highlight affiliate partner recommendations for reliable booking and best proximity to event sites.
  • Dining nearby: Martinsville’s Uptown area offers a range of eateries and cafes. Look for partner-friendly dining options near your chosen Rives on the Road venue for a convenient pre- or post-show meal.

Whether you’re revisiting the historical Rives legacy or exploring contemporary community performances, we’ll help you secure your seats and plan a smooth trip around Martinsville-Henry County. For current show details, venue updates, and official event listings, follow our affiliate partners and the Rives on the Road calendar.

Good to know

Seating, Parking & Venue Information

  • Address: 215 E Church Street, Martinsville, VA 24112 (Rives Theatre; current status demolished).
  • History/venue type: opened as a 1930s playhouse, later twin/movie venue, later a live-music venue named Rives Theatre; renamed Rives Cinema 1 & 2 in the 1980s/2000s per sources.
  • Demolished: destroyed by fire on September 8, 2019 and subsequently demolished; not rebuilt as of 2026. Noted by Cinema Treasures and local reports.
  • Capacity (historical): standing room about 275; seated capacity about 250; roughly 180 permanent seats (historical figures cited by venue history pages).
  • Notable events: historically hosted live music and community programming (Arts at the Rives); since 2019, events occur via Rives on the Road at various venues around Martinsville-Henry County.
  • Current status: no fixed home venue; Rives on the Road operates pop-up shows at multiple sites (e.g., Forest Park, Bassett Train Depot, Heritage Event Center).
  • Nearby hotels: Hampton Inn Martinsville (50 Hampton Drive, Martinsville, VA 24112); Quality Inn of Martinsville (1895 Virginia Avenue); Comfort Inn Martinsville (378 Commonwealth Blvd W).
  • Transit: Piedmont Area Regional Transit (PART) provides fare-free bus service in Martinsville/Henry County; routes serve Uptown Martinsville and key stops; see details for schedules.