Riverside Center for the Performing Arts

Fredericksburg

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

By Uriah Kiser

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.

Go to This Sound of Music at Riverside Will Have You Singing All the Way Home Read more
Features

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

By Uriah Kiser

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.

Go to Riverside’s The Sound of Music Drawing Crowds, Tracking with Jersey Boys Ticket Sales Read more
Features

Riverside’s Sound of Music Is Now On Stage

By Uriah Kiser

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.”

Go to Riverside’s Sound of Music Is Now On Stage Read more
Neighborhood Notes

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

By Uriah Kiser

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.

Go to The Hills Are Alive at Riverside—Here’s a Behind-the-Scenes Look! Read more
Features

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

By Uriah Kiser
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.

Go to What’s On Stage This Weekend: August 15–17 Read more
Features

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

By Uriah Kiser
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.

Go to See The Sound of Music in Fredericksburg—with Manassas’ Own in the Spotlight Read more
Features

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

By Uriah Kiser

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.

Go to Riverside Expands Concert Series with Motown, Rockabilly, Big Band, and More Read more
Features

Riverside Center Plans Tighter Runs, Bigger Impact for 2026 Season

By Uriah Kiser

As Next to Normal prepares to close on August 3, the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is already looking ahead—unveiling the first details of its 2026 season, which promises to blend musical nostalgia, literary beauty, and patriotic charm.

This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!

Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you. Thank you.

Go to Riverside Center Plans Tighter Runs, Bigger Impact for 2026 Season Read more
Fredericksburg

This One Sticks With You: “Next to Normal” Delivers a Powerful Punch at Riverside

By Potomac Local News
Adrianne Hick leads as Diana, a mother battling bipolar disorder and long-standing grief. [Photo: Suzzanne Rossi]

I went in cautiously. I love musicals, but I knew the subject matter—mental illness, trauma, and grief—would be heavy. Still, after interviewing the whole cast on our podcast (the most guests I’ve ever had at once!), I had a feeling this show would be something special.

Before the performance began, the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board spoke to the audience during dinner service—an unusual but fitting gesture. Their message on mental health services set the stage for the powerful experience ahead.

Go to This One Sticks With You: “Next to Normal” Delivers a Powerful Punch at Riverside Read more
View More Stories