Riverside Center for the Performing Arts Archives

Published October 29, 2025 at 10:53PM

“The Velveteen Rabbit, filled with gentle humor and warmth, is Margery Williams’ classic tale of a toy rabbit that dreams of becoming real,” Riverside Center for the Performing Arts announced. “Told with hand puppets, storytelling, and song by a solo puppeteer, the story highlights friendship, changes, magic, and what it means to love and be loved.”

The family-friendly 60-minute puppet show arrives November 22 at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, following the success of the puppets featured in The Sound of Music. Children will also have a chance to visit Santa after the show. Tickets can be reserved by calling 540-370-4300.

Features

Win Free Tickets to Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (Final Post Before Our Drawing)

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 7, 2025 at 3:00PM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Potomac Local News is giving away two tickets to see the world-famous Tommy Dorsey Orchestra when it takes the stage at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, October 12, 2025. One winner will be chosen at random and notified by email. Click here to enter the giveaway.

The 15-piece orchestra, known as “The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing,” will bring silky-smooth swing, toe-tapping rhythms, and timeless ballads that defined an era. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Appetizers and drinks will be available, and Riverside is opening a space down front for those who want to dance along. Tickets are $55 online, and the show lasts 90 minutes, with a brief intermission.

Features

Win Free Tickets to See the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra Swing into Fredericksburg

By Uriah Kiser

Published October 2, 2025 at 10:00AM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Potomac Local News is giving away two tickets to see the world-famous Tommy Dorsey Orchestra when it takes the stage at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday, October 12, 2025. One winner will be chosen at random and notified by email. Click here to enter the giveaway.

The 15-piece orchestra, known as “The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing,” will bring silky-smooth swing, toe-tapping rhythms, and timeless ballads that defined an era. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Appetizers and drinks will be available, and Riverside is opening a space down front for those who want to dance along. Tickets are $55 online, and the show lasts 90 minutes, with a brief intermission.

Fredericksburg

This Sound of Music at Riverside Will Have You Singing All the Way Home

By Uriah Kiser

Published September 4, 2025 at 3:56PM

From the moment the curtain rises at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, it’s clear The Sound of Music is something special. The production delivers one of Riverside’s finest performances in years, a show that captures the heart, lifts the spirit, and fills the theater with music audiences can’t stop humming.

Sarah Mae Andersen carries the show as Maria Rainer, leading with warmth, humor, and conviction. She anchors the story with a magnetic stage presence that makes you believe in Maria’s journey from the abbey to the Von Trapp home. Opposite her, Tim Rogan is a commanding Captain Georg von Trapp, projecting both the authority of a military man and the tenderness of a devoted father. Together, their chemistry grounds the show.

Features

Riverside’s The Sound of Music Drawing Crowds, Tracking with Jersey Boys Ticket Sales

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 28, 2025 at 5:03PM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is two weeks into its run of The Sound of Music, and ticket sales are already tracking alongside one of its biggest recent hits, Jersey Boys.

More than 6,000 tickets have been sold with eight weeks remaining. Jersey Boys drew more than 11,000 during its run in 2024.

Features

Riverside’s Sound of Music Is Now On Stage

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 20, 2025 at 4:10PM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The hills—and the Riverside stage—are alive with The Sound of Music as the beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein classic officially opens today in Fredericksburg.

The cast and creative team at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts say they’ve “poured their hearts into every note, step, and scene,” according to a Facebook post announcing the show’s debut. The production tells the inspiring story of Maria and the Von Trapp family, brought to life through cherished songs like “Do-Re-Mi,” “My Favorite Things,” and “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”

Neighborhood Notes

The Hills Are Alive at Riverside—Here’s a Behind-the-Scenes Look!

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 17, 2025 at 4:10PM

The team at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts just gave Potomac Local News an early peek behind the curtain as they gear up for The Sound of Music, opening this Wednesday.

From hand-painted marble floors (yes, hand-painted) to humming rehearsals and detailed costume fittings, it’s clear the Riverside crew is pouring heart and soul into this classic production. The sets are coming together, the cast is in fine voice, and the stage is nearly set for opening night.

Features

What’s On Stage This Weekend: August 15–17

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 14, 2025 at 8:37AM

Cast members of “A Bridgerton Too Far” bring Regency-era antics to the stage at Allstate Community Theater in Fredericksburg, August 15–16. Photo courtesy of Stage Door Productions Fredericksburg.

Live music, theater, improv, art, and even a bit of history are all taking center stage across the region this weekend. From Manassas to Fredericksburg, here’s a look at what’s happening August 15–17.

At NOVA Live, the summer tribute concert series wraps up on Saturday, August 16, with all-day performances at theYARD Stage. Headliner Nightrain – A Guns N’ Roses Tribute will close the night. The 12-acre entertainment campus at 9901 Discovery Boulevard includes 2 Silos Brewing Co., The Black Sheep Restaurant, Proof Kitchen + Bar, and more, offering plenty of food and drink options before and after the show.

Features

See The Sound of Music in Fredericksburg—with Manassas’ Own in the Spotlight

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 7, 2025 at 10:30AM

Glyptis

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – International opera and musical theater performer Kelly Glyptis is returning to her roots this month, starring as Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts.

Glyptis, who grew up in Manassas and graduated from what was then Stonewall Jackson Senior High School—now Unity-Reed High School—called the opportunity to perform back home “really special.” She previously toured with The Sound of Music in 2018 and now steps fully into the role for a limited run that begins August 20 and continues through October 26. Glyptis is scheduled to perform through October 6.

Features

Riverside Expands Concert Series with Motown, Rockabilly, Big Band, and More

By Uriah Kiser

Published August 6, 2025 at 10:00AM | Updated August 9, 2025 at 6:49PM

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is tuning up for a year of music, nostalgia, and dance as it formally launches a new concert series featuring tributes to Motown, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra—with even more to come in 2026.

Artistic Director Patrick A’Hearn confirmed the lineup will bring a variety of genres to Riverside’s mainstage beginning in August, alongside a newly adopted strategy of shorter theatrical runs to make room for more live music.