The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton announced its 2024-2025 theater season, featuring a lineup of musicals and comedies. The season begins with “Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors” from September 6 to October 27, followed by “Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame” from December 7 to January 12, 2025. “Clyde’s” will run from March 8 to April 6, and “Jesus Christ Superstar” will be performed from May 10 to June 15. Shows will be held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 4 p.m. Tickets are available for $25 to $40 on the Workhouse Arts Center’s website.

Press release:

Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors
By Steve Rosen and Gordon Greenberg
Loosely based on the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker
September 6 – October 27
September: Fridays and Saturdays, 8 pm; Sundays, 2 pm
October: Fridays and Saturdays, 8 pm; Sundays, 4 pm
Special October Twilight Performances: Dracula show combined with admission to our haunted trail that same evening. See website for details.

Synopsis: Filled with clever wordplay and pop culture references, Dracula is a gender-bending, laugh-out-loud reimagining of the gothic classic. In the treacherous mountains of Transylvania, a meek English real estate agent takes a harrowing journey to meet a new and mysterious client, the most terrifying and ferocious monster the world has ever known: Count Dracula! Famed female vampire hunter, Jean Van Helsing, and company chase Drac from Transylvania to the British countryside to London and back.

Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, Book by Peter Parnell
December 7, 2024 – January 12, 2025
Fridays and Saturdays, 8 pm; Sundays, 2 pm
Special Performance on Tuesday, December 31 with New Year’s Eve Post Show Party

Synopsis: The Hunchback of Notre Dame is based on the Victor Hugo novel with songs from the Disney animated feature. Set in fifteenth-century Paris, the musical tells the story of Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer who longs to be in the outside world. Held captive by his devious caretaker, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, he escapes for the day, only to be treated cruelly by all but the beautiful Romani woman, Esmeralda. Quasimodo isn’t the only one captivated by her free spirit, though – the handsome Captain Phoebus and Frollo are equally enthralled. As the three vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a mission to destroy the Roma – and it’s up to Quasimodo to save them all.

Clyde’s
By Lynne Nottage
March 8 – April 6
Fridays and Saturdays, 8 pm; Sundays, 2 pm

Synopsis: Clyde’s, a truck stop sandwich shop offers its formerly incarcerated kitchen staff a shot at redemption. Even as the shop’s callous owner tries to keep them down, the staff members learn to reclaim their lives, find purpose, and become inspired to dream by their shared quest to create the perfect sandwich.

Jesus Christ Superstar
Lyrics by Time Rice, Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
May 10 – June 15
Fridays and Saturdays, 8 pm; Sundays, 2 pm

Synopsis: Jesus Christ Superstar has wowed audiences for over 50 years. The rock opera is loosely based on the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and follows the last week of Jesus Christ’s life. The story, told entirely through song, explores the personal relationships and struggles between Jesus, Judas, Mary Magdalene, his disciples, his followers, and the Roman Empire.

Fairfax County Animal Shelter teams up with Adopt-a-Bird-Network for a class titled “Flock Talk: An Introduction to Chicken Behavior” on Sunday, July 28, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Lorton Campus, located at 8875 Lorton Road in Lorton.

The class aims to educate both new and experienced chicken keepers and individuals interested in learning more about chickens. It will explore various aspects of chicken behavior, including the social structure within flocks, the behavior of roosters, chicken communication methods, and their feeding and foraging habits. The session will also offer tips on maintaining the health and well-being of chickens.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet friendly roosters during the class. Registration for the event is necessary, and interested individuals should complete a registration form for each participant.

Register for the class.

The resurgence of backyard chicken raising in 2020 was primarily due to the global coronavirus pandemic. With extended stay-at-home orders, people turned to chicken keeping to stay occupied and gain more control over their food sources amid concerns of food scarcity and contamination. This trend allowed many to engage in more sustainable living practices and contributed to a sense of self-sufficiency and environmental responsibility.

Next week, more work is planned for the Route 28/-66 interchange.

From VDOT: The following ramps are scheduled to be closed multiple nights, Monday, July 8, through Friday, July 12, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., for finishing construction work as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway project. Drivers are advised to follow the signed detours

• Ramp from I-66 West to Route 28 North
• Ramp from I-66 West to Route 50 West
• Ramp from Route 50 West to I-66 East
• Ramp from Nutley Street North to I-66 West
• Ramp from I-66 East to I-495 South
• Ramp from I-66 West to I-495 South

Closures are also planned for 66 Express access ramps at I-495, Vaden Drive, Route 123, Route 50, and Monument Drive.

All work is weather and schedule-dependent and may be rescheduled if necessary.

“[Daryl] Overton, known for his success at Freedom High School in Prince William County, had announced on Feb. 13 that he would take over the football program at Hayfield. Overton said he would be working daily as a security guard at Hayfield.

He arrived at Hayfield amid high expectations but has quickly become a center of controversy, according to sources, including demands for a “donation” from a “Team Mom/Manager” who said she had worked for six years with Overton at Freedom High School. Later, Overton promoted a fundraiser on [an] online platform that raised an estimated $29,630. The Fairfax County Times interviewed numerous sources for this story, and they asked to remain anonymous, afraid of retaliation against them or their children.”, reports Fairfax County Times.

Shortly after 3 a.m. on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, a Virginia State Police trooper responded to a stopped sedan in a northbound lane of I-495 near Exit 52 in Fairfax County.

According to police, the sedan driver refused to cooperate with the trooper’s attempts to move the vehicle to a safer location on the shoulder. During this interaction, a Jeep Cherokee struck a tractor-trailer that had stopped due to the sedan blocking the travel lane. The collision caused the Jeep to spin and hit the trooper’s patrol car, then struck the sedan and the trooper.

The trooper sustained minor injuries and was transported to Fairfax INOVA Hospital for evaluation. The patrol car’s emergency lights were activated during the incident.

The sedan driver, Erica D. Bernard, 43, of Albright, West Virginia, remained in the vehicle when struck. Bernard was treated for minor injuries and has been charged with driving under the influence of drugs, obstruction, possession of a Schedule I or II substance, refusal of a blood/breath test, and improperly stopping a vehicle on a highway.

The driver of the Jeep Cherokee, Joanna F. Hatch, 35, of Arlington, is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, police said.

Both Bernard and Hatch were taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

Michael Choi has wooed Northern Virginia with delicious food, from making large meals for his kitchen staff to launching his third restaurant. The third Wooboi restaurant will open on Saturday, June 1, at 12721 Shoppes Lane in Fairfax. On opening day, every order will get free wings.

Choi graduated from New York’s Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in 2017 and began working in the kitchen at a steakhouse and then at a Four Seasons hotel. He said his tasks involved making the family meals for the restaurant staff, who affectionately called him Woo Boy. He explained that Choi’s Korean name is Minwoo, and the staff accused him of wooing them with the meals.

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Amtrak is launching a sale for travelers looking to avoid Interstate 95 and opt for a trip aboard Auto Train. Through July 31, 2024, customers can book Coach Class for as low as $75, plus the cost of a vehicle. Children ages two through 12 ride free in Coach Class or First Class private rooms.

The cost to transport a vehicle on the Amtrak Auto Train varies based on the type of vehicle. For standard cars, the cost starts at $208. Extended vehicles, such as trucks, vans, and larger SUVs, are priced at $239. Motorcycles can be transported for $146. Additionally, there is a $60 charge for priority offloading, which ensures your vehicle is among the first 30 to be unloaded upon arrival.

Guests traveling in Coach Class have wide, reclining seats with legroom, no middle seat, and a large window. A complimentary continental breakfast is served before arrival.

Travelers can upgrade to a First Class room for extra comfort and privacy. Accommodation options include a Roomette with two seats that convert into beds, or a Bedroom with twice the space of a Roomette, an in-room sink, restroom, and shower. First Class customers receive priority boarding, a dedicated attendant, and complimentary meals onboard.

This offer is valid for sale from May 21, 2024, through July 31, 2024, and for travel from May 24 to September 2, 2024. The discount is available for travel between Lorton, Va., and Sanford, Fla. A three-day advance purchase is required.

The Amtrak Auto Train offers daily, non-stop service between Lorton and Sanford, Fla. (near Orlando). Customers can travel with various types of vehicles, including cars, vans, SUVs, and motorcycles. This train eliminates nearly 900 miles of driving between the Northeast and Florida.

Fairfax County police: Detectives from our Crash Reconstruction Unit (CRU) are investigating a fatal motorcycle crash in Newington.

This morning around 5:18 a.m., officers responded to a motorcycle crash on Rolling Road near Delong Drive in Newington involving a 2003 Honda 1300. The motorcyclist, Cornell Parish III, 32, of Woodbridge was taken to the hospital and pronounced deceased.

Preliminarily, detectives believe that a BMW sedan may have been involved in the crash based on evidence found at the scene. Detectives are actively investigating the crash’s circumstances and if speed or alcohol were factors.

Detectives would like to speak to anyone who may have information about this case. Those with information are asked to please call our Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-280-0543. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Crime Solvers by phone – 1-866-411-TIPS (866-411-8477), and by web –Click HERE. Download the ‘P3 Tips’ App and follow the steps to “Fairfax Co Crime Solvers”. Anonymous tipsters are eligible for cash rewards. Please leave contact information if you wish for a detective to follow up with you.

There have been 12 traffic crash fatalities in the county to date in 2024. In 2023, there were 6 traffic crash fatalities year to date.

Northern Virginia Community College: Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) will proudly host its 58th commencement ceremony to celebrate the remarkable dedication and achievements of this year’s graduating Nighthawks as they fulfill their dreams of higher education.

• When: 1 p.m., Sunday, May 12.
• Where: George Mason University’s EagleBank Arena (4500 Patriot Circle, Fairfax).
• Commencement Speaker: JR Bontrager, director of technology at 3D Herndon.

JR Bontrager is an inspiring example of resilience and determination. At 46, he recently returned to NOVA, where he is studying engineering while also working full time as director of technology at 3D Herndon. As this year’s commencement speaker, JR is eager to share his personal journey, hoping to inspire others to take advantage of NOVA at any age or stage in their careers. Access to continuous education, he argues, is especially crucial in today’s dynamic and ever-evolving workplace.

An artist by nature, JR has a gift for designing and crafting creative solutions. At 3D Herndon, he specializes in 3D design, printing and scanning. The company is known for its innovative projects, including:

• Adaptive prosthetics for medical use.
• Renderings of ancient bones in collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution.
• Other cutting-edge product designs for a range of clients.

Beyond his work, JR is an advocate for individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), a cause close to his heart due to his own battle with the condition. He loves leveraging his engineering expertise and passion for technology to improve the lives of others.

NOVA’s Commencement Ceremony:

• Will be live streamed Livestream | Northern Virginia Community College (nvcc.edu).
• Will be recorded and closed-captioned for viewing purposes.
• Will be made available on the NOVA website.

For answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the Spring 2024 Commencement page.