6/4/19 6/4/19

[The Free Lance-Star/Culpeper Star Exponent] Review: A shipshape 'Pirates of Penzance' is swashbuckling fun at Riverside

Brilliant wit, successfully delivered, is a rare delight—to experience such wit, joyously sustained and sprinkled steadily over several hours may occur only a handful of occasions in a lifetime.

“The Pirates of Penzance,” onstage now at the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Stafford County, qualifies as one of those occasions—an opportunity to be avidly sought and relished by any intelligent music lover with a sense of humor.

6/4/19 6/4/19

[The Zebra Press] Review: Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance” at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, Fredericksburg, Va.

I have just seen/heard an absolutely first-rate production of “The Pirates of Penzance or The Rascals of the Rappahannock” at the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg, Va. Honestly, I’ve attended many, many productions of this piece with all kinds of adaptations, and this is—hands down—the best. Boom. Period.

5/30/19 5/30/19

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.

5/19/19 5/19/19

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.

10/21/18 10/21/18

Free Lance-Star Review: Riverside's 'Beauty and the Beast'

Everyone knows the story of “Beauty and the Beast.” One of Disney’s most beloved and popular movies, it tells the story of a vain, cruel prince who is cursed to live as a beast after turning an old woman away from his castle for her appearance. Only by learning to love someone and be truly loved in return can the prince break the spell. Enter Belle, an independent village girl who dreams of more outside her quaint little village.

Riverside Center for the Performing Arts brings this classic story to life with all of the favorite songs and characters from the 1991 animated feature, but it also offers fans and newcomers so much more to enjoy. What makes this show stand out are the quieter moments that resonate with the audience. That is what Riverside is trying to shine a light on: the relationships at the heart of the story.

8/7/18 8/7/18

BWW Review: Riverside Center for the Performing Arts' A CHORUS LINE Captures Lightning in a Bottle

Riverside Center for the Performing Arts has a real treat for its 100th production with the classic Broadway musical A Chorus Line. From the iconic opening number to the show-stopping finale, 22 triple-threat performers work tirelessly and prove this production is something really special. There have been recent tours and productions in Virginia, but this is the "One" audiences really must see.

7/18/18 7/18/18

BWW Review: ALWAYS PATSY CLINE at Riverside Center For The Performing Arts Soars!

Get your tickets to one of the most entertaining productions of the year. Riverside Center's production of ALWAYS PATSY CLINE radiates with authenticity, humor and powerhouse vocals. Given the unique, roll-with-the-punches audience interactions, no two performances are the same. The production runs through July 15 at the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg.

4/1/18 4/1/18

Free Lance-Star Review: What makes a monster and what makes a man? Riverside's 'Hunchback of Notre Dame'

From the ominous opening melody to the crashing “Finale Ultimo,” Riverside Center for the Performing Arts’ production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” seduces a depth of fascination from audience members not often seen at the dinner theater.

An ambitious production, led by Justin Luciano as Quasimodo and Thomas Adrian Simpson as Dom Claude Frollo, sends chills through the viewer, repeatedly inspiring the desired mix of horror and delight. The 18-person cast, the largest in Riverside history, is backed by a chorus of 20 and accompanied by a nine-piece orchestra.

3/20/18 3/20/18

DCMetroTheaterArts Review: ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts

Riverside Center for the Performing Arts presents The Hunchback of Notre Dame, with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, and book by Peter Parnell. Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney film, Riverside is the first theatre in the metropolitan area to premiere its regional debut! Director Patrick A’Hearn leads this grand production–the largest at Riverside to date.

1/24/18 1/24/18

BWW Review: MAMMA MIA Proves A Super Trouper in Regional Premiere at Riverside Center

The view looks pretty good from a pair of platform shoes. Heck, even on an idyllic, Greek island resort there's not a moment of stress and strain that can't be cured by breaking into the hits of Sweden's number one pop group, ABBA.

Located just south of the metropolitan DMV area (off of I-95), Riverside has grabbed MAMMA MIA! ahead of tons of other professional theatres, so they are rightly boasting a regional premiere for this production, running through March 4. From what I could tell during my visit, audiences are responding favorably and want to get their ABBA fix - along with a Greek-inspired menu that had me shouting "Opa!"