Dear Web-surfers and Theatre-goers,

Originally, this site was created to publicize upcoming productions for 3 Penny Theatre, which operated in Richmond, Virginia from 2010 to 2022. Currently, I’m renovating this site to become the archive for 3 Penny Theatre and to publicize upcoming theatre events I’m involved with.

Sincerely, Ray Carver Founder & 3 Penny Company Member

Ray Carver has been working over 50 years in the theatre as an actor, director, designer, playwright, and producer for community, educational, and professional theaters.  Working in the Midwest, he founded two small theaters.  One of which was chosen by Iowa State Capitol Centennial Commission to represent Iowa’s theatres in the State Capitol Centennial Time Capsule.  Also, the acting classes he taught were featured on the state wide Iowa public television network.  In Minnesota’s Twin Cities he worked as a director and designer for several of the many theaters in Minneapolis and St. Paul metropolitan area.  As a lighting designer he designed the lighting system for the theater attached to the Meredith Willson (author of “The Music Man) Museum. Ray is the author of many plays, including a  published series of plays used in schools across the country.  Three of his plays based on works by Mark Twain are part of the collection of the Mark Twain Boyhood Home Museum in Hannibal, Missouri.  Besides acting onstage and in film, he’s performed and directed published books on tape.  In Richmond, Virginia, he revitalized the after school theatre program at the high school where he worked and started doing productions for Richmond’s  Acts of Faith Theatre Festival which led to his founding of the Three-Penny Theatre.  Some of the Three-Penny productions were “Life On The Mississippi; an evening with Mark Twain, “Ghosts; a night of storytelling based works by Richmond Artists”,  “Nothing To Fear”, and “The Rivah Home Companion” (RHC was a Richmond version of Prairie Home Companion focused on the diversity that is in Richmond.), and “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”. Ray also worked on the Steven Spielberg film “Lincoln”, which was shot in Richmond, Virginia. Since retiring and returning to Iowa, Ray continues to work in the theatre. In 2024 he directed Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap”, the opening production of the Mason City Community Theater’s 60th season, then closed out the MCCT’s season directing Neil Simon’s “The Good Doctor”. He’s toured Iowa playing Mark Twain in “Life On The Mississippi” and also performing all of the characters in a one-person production of “A Christmas Carol”

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT WHAT IS COMING UP! https://3pennyplays.org/upcoming-productions/