A vibrant and powerful ‘Color Purple’ soars at Riverside
Over the past several months, the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts has brought an enchanting Disney tale (“Beauty and the Beast”), a rollicking Buddy Holly revue (“A Rockabilly Christmas”) and an endearing drag queen extravaganza (“La Cage aux Folles”). With its current offering and season-closer, “The Color Purple,” Riverside is going straight for the heart.
Audiences, be prepared to be put through an emotional wringer.
Riverside stages rebooted musical version of Alice Walker's 'The Color Purple'
What is Fredericksburg’s favorite color?
Well, through early May, it’s shaping up to be purple.
“The Color Purple” made its regional début yesterday at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts and runs through May 5.
Kanysha Williams and Nia Savoy preview "The Color Purple" with Town Talk's Ted Schubel!
Listen to Kanysha Williams (Celie) and Nia Savoy (Shug Avery) preview our upcoming production of The Color Purple at Riverside alongside director and Riverside Center's Producing Artistic Director, Patrick A'Hearn and Town Talk's Ted Schubel (NewsTalk 1230 WFVA).
Wendell Jordan, Kadejah Oné, and Carl L. Williams preview "The Color Purple" with Town Talk's Ted Schubel!
Listen to Wendell Jordan (Mister), Kadejah Oné (Sofia), and Carl L. Williams (Harpo) preview our upcoming production of The Color Purple at Riverside alongside director and Riverside Center's Producing Artistic Director, Patrick A'Hearn and Town Talk's Ted Schubel (NewsTalk 1230 WFVA).
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[Free Lance-Star] YOUNG LIFE: Tales of friendship from Winnie-the-Pooh and friends at Riverside
The current production of Riverside Children’s Theatre, “Winnie-the-Pooh,” proves that the lovable, caring “bear of little brain” has the continuing capacity to win—and melt—the hearts of audiences young and old.
The show’s director Priya Paranthaman said that her team tried to stay close to the original vision of author A.A. Milne—who first introduced young readers to the whimsical world of Pooh in 1924—in this production, which includes actual dialogue from the books.
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[CBS6's Virginia This Morning] Come out and see ‘La Cage Aux Folles’
RICHMOND, Va. - Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg is excited to bring the Tony Award winning production, “La Cage Aux Folles” to the stage! Christopher Sanders and Gabe Belyeu shared a song from the show. Patrick A’Hearn, Producing Artistic Director was also on hand.
Culpeper Times CURTAIN CALLS: ‘La Cage' releases Folles at Riverside
Pull out your feather boa, your sequined gown and gold lame cape. Squeeze into those impossible high heels and don’t forget the fire engine lipstick.
Oh, and tell your wife to dress up, too. The “folles” have arrived!
This is a first for our favorite dinner theater. The Riverside Center has made the creative decision to branch out a bit and bring something not seen on a mainstream stage in the Fredericksburg area. But “not seen” doesn’t mean “new.” For all its glitter and illusion, “La Cage Aux Folles” has a very respectable 46-year history.
Free Lance-Star Review: Warm up to a fabulously funny ‘La Cage aux Folles’
The French Riviera comes to Fredericksburg as “La Cage aux Folles,” with its irrepressible star Zsa Zsa, flies into the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts.
And what better way to escape this arctic blast than with a heartwarming show about love and family, complete with drag queens and flashy musical numbers?
“La Cage aux Folles” is packed with humor and heart as it follows an older gay couple, Georges and Albin, and the challenges they face when Georges’ son, Jean-Michel, announces his engagement to the daughter of a super-conservative politician.
Christopher Sanders and Gabe Belyeu preview "La Cage aux Folles" with Town Talk's Ted Schubel!
Listen to Christopher Sanders (Georges) and Gabe Belyeu (Albin) preview our upcoming production of La Cage aux Folles at Riverside alongside director and Riverside Center's Producing Artistic Director, Patrick A'Hearn and Town Talk's Ted Schubel (NewsTalk 1230 WFVA).
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[Free Lance-Star] Riverside lets loose the Broadway classic 'La Cage aux Folles'
Remember “The Birdcage”?
The 1996 instant-classic-of-a-flick, starring Robin Williams and Gene Hackman, left audiences in tears—both laughing and reflecting on love in its many forms.
Now the musical version of this wonderful story is making its way to the ’Burg. “La Cage aux Folles” owns the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts stage through early March.
Riverside Center for the Performing Arts presents LA CAGE AUX FOLLES!
The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg, Virginia is excited to present The Tony award winning La Cage aux Folles beginning January 9th and running until Sunday, March 3rd. The original 1983 Broadway production received nine nominations for Tony Awards and won six. The 2010 Broadway revival was nominated for eleven Tony Awards, winning the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. Based on the French play and retold in the Robin Williams movie, The Bird Cage, the Jerry Herman Broadway musical La Cage aux Folles is the story of a gay couple who must pretend to be straight for one night - with one of the men in drag - to dupe the conservative political family of their son's fiancée. Featuring songs, "I Am What I Am," "With Ann on My Arm," and "The Best of Times."
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[Free Lance-Star Year in Review] 2018: a big and bright journey to the past
In 2018, I saw nearly 30 area productions (not to mention “Frozen” on Broadway and “West Side Story” sung entirely in Spanish while on vacation). That number is only a small dent in the incredible theater that was presented on local stages.
Here are a few of my favorites:
DCMetroTheaterArts Review: ‘A Rockabilly Christmas’ at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts
This holiday season, Riverside Center for the Performing Arts presents A Rockabilly Christmas, co-created by Todd Meredith, Patrick A’Hearn and Jeremy Renner. For this production, Riverside returns select soloists alongside Todd Meredith and his band the Rave-Ons. Together, the group throws a festive party onstage by performing a collection of classic holiday songs with a rockabilly twist. They also share stories, jokes, and general holiday cheer!
Free Lance-Star Review: Riverside rocks the holiday classics in 'A Rockabilly Christmas'
If you’re looking for Christmas, you’ll find it—and a lot more—at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts. This month, the dinner theater is cranking up the holiday cheer with “A Rockabilly Christmas.” And it has recruited some of your favorite Riverside faces like Ian Lane, Sheri Hayden and Kadejah Oné. But the show’s biggest gift to audiences is Todd Meredith and the Rave-Ons, and their high-voltage energy and concert theatrics.
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[Free Lance-Star] Have yourself a 'Rockabilly Christmas' at Riverside Center
Christmas is coming to Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, but with a rock ’n’ roll twist.
“A Rockabilly Christmas” is set to premiere for a limited time at the center, from Dec. 4-30. By blending classic holiday tunes with Buddy Holly favorites, the show serves as a tribute to both Christmas and the musician known for his rock ’n’ roll hits.
Todd Meredith and Patrick A'Hearn preview A Rockabilly Christmas! with Town Talk's Ted Schubel
Listen to Todd Meredith preview our upcoming production of A Rockabilly Christmas! at Riverside alongside Riverside Center's Producing Artistic Director, Patrick A'Hearn and Town Talk's Ted Schubel (NewsTalk 1230 WFVA).
A Rockabilly Christmas! runs now through December 30, 2018. Tickets are available via our website or by calling our box office at 540-370-4300!
BWW Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Riverside Center For The Performing Arts
Riverside Center for the Performing Arts continues its season with the Disney classic BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. If audience response is any indication, this musical extravaganza is enjoyable for the entire family. Arrive early as the dinner theatre offers its audiences a variety of three-course meals that are appetizing and perfectly-themed for this production. Kids will also appreciate a meet and greet with some of Disney's most iconic characters following the performance.
DCMetroTheaterArts Review: ‘Beauty and the Beast’ at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts
A beloved classic, Beauty and the Beast is a popular choice amongst audiences. When a show’s high status is paired with Riverside’s well-earned reputation for providing Broadway-quality performances for the NOVA region, the result is a packed auditorium. I wasn’t at all surprised to see so many people at my performance (or lots of little girls in sparkly yellow ball gowns), nor was I surprised when that performance received an enthusiastic standing ovation at curtain call.
Culpeper Times CURTAIN CALLS: Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” Roars On
For many years of reviewing regional theatre, I have looked around the audience with growing concern at the many grey and balding heads. Where, I asked myself, in this age of Netflix, YouTube, video games, and movie theatres with reclining chairs will the next generation of live theatre patrons come from?
Now I have an answer.
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[Free Lance-Star] Young life: Riverside Children's Theater presents 'The Sorcerer's Apprentice'
The latest feature from Riverside Children’s Theater, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” will whisk audiences away to a fantastic realm where trees and woodland creatures are animated and talkative and a wise sorceress’ magical feats are just a hand-wave away. At the same time, it brings home a lasting life message that the world of nature has a magic of its own that is perceptible only to those with the heart and eyes to appreciate it and that we have the power to achieve our dreams if we are willing to listen and work hard. All of which is conveyed through a crew of winsome—sometimes comically over-played—characters and a good measure of physical comedy that will elicit smiles, giggles and laughter.