2/18/20 2/18/20

[CURTAIN CALLS] Review: “Grease” – Rocks and Rolls at Riverside

Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.

Nearly half a century ago, a little show opened in Chicago that took the town by storm. Based on Jim Jacobs’ memories of his high school years, it plugged into the softening view of the Fifties, those Eisenhower years between WWII and Vietnam, as a time of benign stability. Named for the guys who slicked their hair into greased ducktails, “Grease” became a musical phenomenon.

1/30/20 1/30/20

[The Free Lance-Star] Review: 'Grease' is a colorful ride through nostalgia at Riverside

“Grease” is getting a whole lot of lovin’ this year. With a TV spinoff in the works and a vibrant production at the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, this story about a group of teenagers living it up in small-town 1959 America continues to resonate.

1/23/20 1/23/20

[Free Lance-Star] Big emotions, big performances: A look back at theater in 2019

Another year, another decade.

With the incredible wealth of theater in the area, it’s impossible to see everything. Before launching into another year of shows, let’s take a look back at some of the works that left a big mark—or smile—with this reviewer. Here are some of my favorites:

1/16/20 1/16/20

[CBS 6 Virginia This Morning] "Grease" Playing at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts

Today we’ll talk with Justine Verheul who portrays “Sandy” and Taylor Lloyd who stars as “Rizzo.” Producing Artistic Director Patrick A’Hearn and Musical Director and Keyboardist Garrett Jones also join us to share sneak peeks of this incredible performance of a hit movie made over 30 years ago and still popular today.

1/14/20 1/14/20

[DC Metro Theater Arts] Review: ‘Grease’ at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts rocks and rolls

Grease is a musical that celebrates the changes born of the late 1950s era of rock n’ roll, drive-in movies, and James Dean–an era that sat on the cusp of the turbulent 1960s. Riverside Center for the Performing Arts served up a Broadway-quality show, thanks to Director and Choreographer Patti D’Beck (who assistant choreographed Tommy Tune’s1994 Broadway revival), music, lyrics, and book by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs, and additional songs by John Farrar. This production offers a nostalgic afternoon for music lovers of all ages that strikes like “Greased Lightning.”

1/13/20 1/13/20

[Free Lance-Star] 'Grease' at Riverside: It's got groove, it's got meaning

If you’ve been sticking with that New Year’s diet, you’ve probably avoided greasy things like the plague.Kudos to you.But there’s a totally fulfilling type of grease landing in the ’Burg that’s super-nourishing to the soul, is faced-paced entertainment goodness and won’t destroy your resolution. The musical “Grease” opened at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday and runs through March 15.

1/8/20 1/8/20

The Cast of Grease preview Grease with Town Talk's Ted Schubel

Listen to Tyler Michael Breeding (Danny Zuko), Justine Verheul (Sandy Dumbrowski), Theron Smith III (Kenickie), and Taylor Lloyd (Betty Rizzo) preview our upcoming production of Grease at Riverside alongside Riverside Center's Producing Artistic Director, Patrick A'Hearn and Town Talk's Ted Schubel (NewsTalk 1230 WFVA).

12/16/19 12/16/19

[BroadwayWorld] Riverside Center For The Performing Arts Presents GREASE

"Grease is the word" at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts from January 8th through March 15th! Travel back to the 50s and join Rydell High's senior class of 1959: duck-tailed, hot-rodding "Burger Palace Boys" and their gum-snapping, hip-shaking "Pink Ladies" in bobby sox and pedal pushers, evoking the look and sound of the 1950s in this rollicking musical. The incredible music, lyrics, and book were written by Warren Casey and Jim Jacobs. The production will also include some of your favorite songs from the movie, as special licensing has been arranged.

12/11/19 12/11/19

[Free Lance-Star] Soldier's homecoming surprises wife, son and Riverside theater audience

An Army soldier returned home from Afghanistan and surprised his family with a Christmas homecoming they will never forget. Unbeknownst to his wife Bree and their young son Ryland, Army Spc. Shawn O’Malley stepped out onto the stage of Stafford’s Riverside Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday night, with actors who were portraying different branches of the military.

12/8/19 12/8/19

[ABC 7 - WJLA] Soldier returning from Afghanistan surprises family during Christmas play in Virginia

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (WJLA) — It was a true Bing Crosby moment at The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg, Virginia Saturday night.

Artistic director Patrick A'Hearn tells ABC7 that Army Specialist Sean O’Malley returned home from Afghanistan and surprised his wife Bree and his son Ryland on stage during "A Riverside Christmas Spectacular."

12/5/19 12/5/19

[DC Metro Theater Arts] Back by popular demand, ‘Riverside Christmas Spectacular’ sparkles

Back by popular demand and refreshed for 2019, Riverside Center for the Performing Arts presents Riverside Christmas Spectacular, a variety show composed of beloved Christmas classics, with a few fun new treats as well. Director Patrick A’Hearn provides the Book for this production alongside Sherri L. Edelen, with Musical Arrangements by Paul Rawlins. Angela Donadio directs a live orchestra onstage, and they do an impeccable job with the music.

12/4/19 12/4/19

[Free Lance-Star] The 'Riverside Christmas Spectacular' brings holiday happiness

If you haven’t quite caught the holiday spirit yet, let’s change that. Whether you’ve been a complete Grinch up to this point or you’ve simply bottled up all of your Christmas excitement to release it after Thanksgiving, there’s a new show at Riverside to bring us all oodles of joy. The “Riverside Christmas Spectacular” kicked off Wednesday and runs through Dec. 29.

11/3/19 11/3/19

[Culpeper Times] CURTAIN CALLS: Leapin' Lizards! It's 'Annie'

Yes, we’re polarized and angry, uncertain about the future, defensive about our politics, but hey! The sun’ll come out tomorrow!

Maybe that sounds like impossible optimism, or “an unstoppable sunshine steamroller” as Ben Brantley called it, but “Annie” has not just survived, it’s thrived because people would rather feel good than bad. It’s almost that simple.

Riverside Center for the Performing Arts welcomes this durable piece of musical theatre to its 22nd season, and it doesn’t disappoint. The little red-headed orphan who entertained our parents and grandparents through the 1920s, the Great Depression, and WWII has had a long run. Based on “Little Orphan Annie”, the comic strip by Harold Gray, “Annie” is the 1977 Broadway musical that snapped up seven Tony Awards and ran for six years before spawning a few less memorable films as well as three Broadway revivals.

10/31/19 10/31/19

[DC Metro Theater Arts] Review: ‘Annie’ at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts

Riverside Center for the Performing Arts presents Annie, the beloved Broadway darling that has enchanted audiences through generations! With its Book by Thomas Meehan, Music by Charles Strouse, and Lyrics by Martin Charnin, Annie has won seven Tony awards, including Best Musical. Producing Artistic Director Patrick A’Hearn directs a powerhouse cast for this production, led by the incomparable Sally Struthers, who is reprising her role as Miss Hannigan from the 20th Anniversary National Tour.

10/31/19 10/31/19

[The Zebra Press] Review: This “Annie” Proves that Once is Simply Not Enough!

“Annie” now playing at the Riverside Center for the Arts has regained its position as a first-class musical. “Why,” you may ask? Because it has a first-rate, A++ cast! Not only that, the seven-piece orchestra conducted by Carson Eubank supports this production perfectly and can stand on its own (and does in several joyous instances). Additionally, the heroic set by Frank Foster includes brilliant projections curated by director Patrick A’Hearn that indelibly stamp the era in your mind before the show even opens and appear occasionally during the show to great advantage.

10/31/19 10/31/19

[Free Lance-Star] Review: 'Annie' is a big-hearted charmer at Riverside

Little Orphan Annie made her début in Harold Gray’s comic strip in 1924, and almost 100 years later, this spirited redhead continues to inspire people’s hopes for a better tomorrow.

“Annie,” now onstage at Riverside, is a sweet, feel-good family show. As the first few notes of the musical’s overture start to trickle out, it’s hard not to smile and feel nostalgic about the beloved 1982 film starring Aileen Quinn as the effervescent streetwise redhead. Movie lovers will notice some differences in the musical version featuring a book by Thomas Meehan (no scary bridge scene), but overall, one thing’s for certain: This story about an optimistic orphan in search of her parents has a big heart.

10/31/19 10/31/19

[Prince George's Sentinel] ‘Leapin’ lizards!’ A swell ‘Annie’ with heart

…The world now knows and loves “Little Orphan Annie” simply as “Annie,” the eternally optimistic (and pro-Roosevelt!) red-headed protagonist of the stage musical and subsequent film franchise.

Just as we briefly returned above to the comic pages of yore, Director Patrick A’Hearn returns the musical to its original version, for – like the comic-strip character herself – the show “Annie” has been revised many times since the character’s first appearance on Broadway in 1977.

What A’Hearn found missing in post-1977 versions was heart, he told us, and that he restores in full measure in his production currently playing at the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

10/31/19 10/31/19

[Free Lance-Star] 'Annie' comes to Riverside Center for the Performing Arts

Carol Burnett and Aileen Quinn starred in the beloved 1982 film. Andrea McArdle, Reid Shelton and Dorothy Loudon starred in the Broadway original.

And now, “Annie” has landed at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts with some stars of its own. The musical opened at the Fredericksburg venue on Wednesday and runs through Nov. 17.

10/16/19 10/16/19

Sally Struthers and Katie Little preview Annie (Starring Sally Struthers as Miss Hannigan) with Town Talk's Ted Schubel

Listen to TV and Broadway Star, Sally Struthers (Miss Hannigan) and Katie Little (Grace Farrell) preview our production of Annie (Starring Sally Struthers as Miss Hannigan) at Riverside alongside director and Riverside Center's Producing Artistic Director, Patrick A'Hearn and Town Talk's Ted Schubel (NewsTalk 1230 WFVA).

9/18/19 9/18/19

Kylee Hope Geraci and Christopher Sanders preview Annie (Starring Sally Struthers as Miss Hannigan) with Town Talk's Ted Schubel

Listen to Kylee Hope Geraci (Annie) and Christopher Sanders (Daddy Warbucks) preview our upcoming production of Annie (Starring Sally Struthers as Miss Hannigan) at Riverside alongside director and Riverside Center's Producing Artistic Director, Patrick A'Hearn and Town Talk's Ted Schubel (NewsTalk 1230 WFVA).