Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountain are the iconic Daughter of the Stars Theater (DOTS) and Nighthawks Diner. Built in 1926, the property was originally a movie cinema that hosted various film stars and pop culture figures on their promotional circuits. Today, our mission is to explore and promote the history, music, art, and cultures of the Shenandoah Valley. The theater itself and the magnificent surrounding countryside come together to paint a charming and unique picture of American culture.
Our primary focus is to celebrate and bring to a wider audience the rich and diverse history, music, art, and cultures of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley in an entertaining and respectful way.
We began the work of restoring the theater in the spring of 2021 and plan to continue bringing live entertainment to our local community that not only honors our culture but also promotes our beautiful Valley. We’re also proud to offer a treasure trove of historic, casual, and live-to-tape performances through our YouTube Channel.
Renovations of DOTS began in the spring of 2021. Founder and CEO, Patrick Burns, discovered the building was leaning 3.5 inches to the east and separating at the stairwell. Burns and the DOTS team used innovative clamp designs to correct the building’s orientation, with the balcony serving as a key element.
Efforts were made to retain the original acoustics and design, preserving the east and west walls, ceiling, and original chairs from 1929 for our balcony and mezzanine. The warmer months were chosen for the work, allowing the temperatures and natural moisture to restore the beautiful wooden bones of our structure. A specially designed underlay of floating, honeycomb-style supports provide the original theater flooring with support while maintaining optimal acoustics.
It was important to Burns that our theater have a mezzanine and balcony, and we’re proud to offer both of these elegant and unique spaces for the enjoyment of our patrons! Views and acoustics are best when seating in our balcony. As we continue to add operational capabilities, we will be providing additional amenities for our balcony and mezzanine guests.
Together, we take a closer look at the wonder, beauty, and rich history of the Shenandoah Valley. The Valley stretches from the eastern panhandle of West Virginia all the way to southwestern Virginia and is characterized by the Shenandoah River, which flows along the base of the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains.
DOTS is committed to celebrating and amplifying the fascinating history and culture of this region in a positive and entertaining way. With our patrons, we explore the curiously remarkable history and culture of the Shenandoah Valley.
DOTS is proud to have a non-profit [501(c)3] wing of our organization, which is completely dedicated to serving the local community and amplifying the musical and cultural roots of the Shenandoah Valley. This work is carried out in a multitude of ways, such as in music-based summer camps for local children, donations and sponsorships for local causes, educational content and programming on YouTube, and much more.
To learn more about our educational content and programming, please visit our YouTube Channel here.
Website design and development by White Wolf Communications Group.