The renovated Shafer Street Playhouse includes the 150 seat Richard Newdick Theatre. Most rehearsal spaces have wooden floors and natural light.

The Shafer Alliance Laboratory Theatre (SALT) is a performance/directing lab that affords Theatre VCU students the opportunity to present works focused primarily on the essentials of performance in a creative and impartial manner. The student-run Shafer Steet Lab offers students another outlet for further development of critical theatrical skills, such as script analysis, dramaturgy, research, and communication. All productions are produced with minimal technical demands.

The Department of Theatre encourages and supports the students' efforts in special interest groups and has endorsed the follow student theatre groups:

• Theatre of Diverse Voices - highlights the talents of culturally diverse theatre students.
• The Women's Project - explores female experiences in dramatic literature, performance and production.
• Guild of Graduate Students (GOGS) - Supports, funds, and provides an outlet for graduate student productions and projects
• No Shame Variety Show - Monthly variety show organized by Theatre VCU students highlighting individual talents on the Newdick stage.

SALT Website: http://shaferalliancelabtheatre.webs.com/

Under Theatre VCU's umbrella, studio projects, play readings and guest artists are some of the many activities sponsored by these organizations. These groups are partially funded by the VCU Student Government Association.