As Broadway comes to Caroline Street at the newly revitalized Fredericksburg Square, residents and visitors are in for a treat.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, the historic venue will host “Broadway on Caroline – Riverside Downtown,” promising a night of live performances, craft beer, and culinary delights.

The event will feature performers from Riverside Center, bringing the magic of Broadway to Downtown Fredericksburg. Attendees can expect a show that showcases some of their favorite Riverside Center performers.

To complement the entertainment, Water’s End Brewery will serve fresh craft beer, adding a delightful touch to the evening. Guests can also indulge in a bite to eat from the Fredericksburg Square kitchen, offering Flagship favorites like chicken sandwiches and wings.

Fredericksburg Square, located at 525 Caroline Street in Historic Downtown Fredericksburg, is a historic venue. Originally constructed as a townhome in 1854, the building has seen various uses over the years, including being a private residence, a private club, and an exclusive event center. In December 2021, a new ownership team took over with the vision of opening this grand space to the public.

The venue is now home to Water’s End Brewery, which provides a friendly, casual, fresh beer experience. Fredericksburg Square, open to the public Wednesday through Sunday, offers private event space rentals and catering services.

Tickets for Broadway on Caroline are on sale now for $40. Space is limited, so attendees are encouraged to purchase their tickets early. The ticket includes show admission and is non-refundable.

Stafford County’s Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is set to heat up even in the chilly winter weather as the “Jersey Boys” take center stage for their opening weekend.

Snow, ice, or wind won’t deter audiences from experiencing this award-winning musical’s phenomenal music, memorable characters, and captivating storytelling.

“Jersey Boys” chronicles the evolution of four blue-collar children who became one of the greatest success stories in pop music history – Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. Winner of Best Musical at both the Tony Awards and Olivier Awards, the show provides an intimate look behind the scenes at the 40-year friendship that propelled these young talents from the streets of New Jersey to the heights of stardom.

The performances feature chart-topping hits like “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” “Dawn,” and “My Eyes Adored You.” These songs defined an era and earned The Four Seasons induction into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Gian DiCostanzo takes on the role of “Frankie Valli,” the distinctive falsetto voice and frontman of The Four Seasons since 1960. Known for his powerful vocals, DiCostanzo brings Valli’s character to life, capturing the essence of the musical journey that defined a generation.

For those looking to make it a night out, Riverside Center offers a dinner and show package with prices as follows:

– Adult Dinner & Show: $82 (plus applicable taxes)
– Seniors (65+) Dinner & Show: $77 (plus applicable taxes)
– Children (3-17) Dinner & Show: $70 (plus applicable taxes)

Show-only options are also available:

– Adult Show Only: $65
– Seniors (65+) Show Only: $60
– Children (3-17) Show Only: $55

Be sure to note the $5 online processing fee per ticket.

The schedule accommodates various preferences, with Wednesday matinees featuring meal service and light fare offerings, Thursday through Saturday evenings offering dinner service, and Sunday matinees presenting a delightful meal service before the performance.

Wednesday Matinees:
– 11:30am-12:45pm: Meal Service & Light Fare Offerings
– 12:45pm: Show Only Arrival
– 1:30pm: Performance Start

Thurs. – Sat. Evenings:
– 5:30pm-6:45pm: Meal Service & Light Fare Offerings
– 6:45pm: Show Only Arrival
– 7:30pm: Performance Start

Sunday Matinees:
– 1:00pm-2:15pm: Meal Service & Light Fare Offerings
– 2:15pm: Show Only Arrival
– 3:00pm: Performance Start

The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts sits at 95 Riverside Parkway in Stafford County, just off Route 17 and Interstate 95.

The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is decked out for Christmas,  and its Christmas show reminds us what it means to be kind this holiday season.

The performance house is celebrating its 25 years in 2023 and is showing “Miracle on 34th Street” for its annual Christmas show. “Miracle on 34th Street” gets everyone in the holiday spirit.

The show’s main message revolves around kindness during the holiday season – something still as pertinent now as it was in 1947 when Valentine Davies created the musical.

At Riverside’s performance, the audience is first greeted by Christmas-themed decorations in the elaborate foyer, coupled with sparkling chandeliers, which add to the anticipation of the entertainment. The staff provides impeccable service and pays attention to every detail, catering to upward of 250 people at each performance.

Catherine Mayers portrayed Susan Walker, a girl whose well-meaning mother (played by Elizabeth Butler) has raised her not to believe in Santa Claus. When their lives intersect with that of Kris Kringle (played by Jim Lawson), an elderly man hired to play Santa at Macy’s in New York, Susan begins to suspect he may be the real St. Nick.

After a jealous fellow employee frames him for an assault, Kringle is placed under arrest. At the court hearing, Kringle and his attorney Fred Gaily attempt to prove that he is the real Santa Claus. The Story ends with Fred (Kevin Cleary) and Susan falling in love and living happily ever after.

The Riverside Theatre recently transitioned to a nonprofit organization to help promote, enhance, and fund education and participation in the performing arts in our region. The youth performers in “Miracle on 34th Street” reflect Riverside’s passion for encouraging young people to become involved in the performing Arts.

Indeed, it hosts the Annual Riverside Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theatre and provides youth summer performing arts camps free of charge to economically disadvantaged children.

“Miracle on 34th Street” will be performed from now until Dec. 31, 2023. Tickets are available from the theatre’s website riversidedt.com, or by calling the box office at 540-370-4300. Prices range between $60 and $75 for adults and $55 to $70 for children aged 3 to 12.

The theatre is at 95 Riverside Parkway in Stafford County.

Never having visited the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts before, I was unsure what to expect. Theaters always conjure images of damp, dark, old, and slightly threadbare interiors, with their glory days a dim and distant past.

However, this is not the case for the Riverside Center. Its bright interior conveyed none of that, and the welcome by the staff added to the warmth of the atmosphere. In keeping with the play’s setting in the Deep South, the three-course menu complimented southern cuisine and culminated with a generous portion of fennel cake, which would not have been out of place in any county fair.

I must confess that neither myself nor my party member had seen or read the “Bridges of Madison County,” so we watched the production without any sense of the show’s outcome. This made for some interesting discussion during the half-time break and kept me wondering how the display would end.

The performances by all of the cast were outstanding, and the singing quality was excellent. One party member commented that this production would not be out of place in a London West End Theater. It’s challenging to pick out specific people, but this review would be amiss if it didn’t mention the singing talents of Adrianne Hick as Francesca Johnson and Andrew Foote as Robert Kincaid. However, in my humble opinion, the slow, sultry, passion-filled rendition of a jazzy number by Andrea Kahane made the steamy love affair between Francesa and Robert so believable that it stole the show. Others, of course, may have differing views.

Then there’s the props and backdrop, constantly changing to reflect the changing scenes. One of my favorites, the Jeep, had the actors mimicking opening and closing doors and was the catalyst for father/son bickering. The truck also provided a background to some of the lighter moments in the play, especially the sibling rivalry between Michael and Carolyn Johnson, whose comic timing kept a smile on the faces of the audiences.

I would be remiss not to comment on the talented musicians; their performance was outstanding and contributed to making this performance so enjoyable.

It’s surprising how easy it is to visit this theater, especially from the Woodbridge area, and if, like me, you have not been here before, I would encourage everyone to keep this theater in mind. Watching live entertainment in a local setting with friendly faces is a rare treat.

The Bridges of Madison County is on until November 12. The theatre is at 95 Riverside Parkway in Stafford County.

What to know if you go:

Wednesday Matinees

• 11:30 am-12:45 pm: Meal Service & Light Fare Offerings
• 12:45 pm: Show Only Arrival
• 1:30 pm: Performance Start

Thurs. – Sat. Evenings

• 5:30 pm-6:45 pm: Meal Service & Light Fare Offerings
• 6:45 pm: Show Only Arrival
• 7:30 pm: Performance Start

Sunday Matinees

• 1:00 pm-2:15 pm: Meal Service & Light Fare Offerings
• 2:15 pm: Show Only Arrival
• 3:00 pm: Performance Start

Adult Dinner & Show – $75 (plus applicable taxes)

• Seniors (65+) Dinner & Show – $70 (plus applicable taxes)
• Children (3-12) Dinner & Show – $70 (plus applicable taxes)
• Adult Show Only – $60
• Seniors (65+) Show Only – $55
• Children (3-12) Show Only – $55

The players returned to Riverside Center for the Performing Arts to present “42nd Street,” a story about a girl who moves from a small town to New York City to find fame on Broadway.

Riverside’s production of the high-energy show stars Andrea McArdle as Dorothy Brock, the seasoned star hired to make the fictitious show in the play, “Pretty Lady,” a hit. The iconic McArdle has appeared in several Broadway plays, including her heart-winning performance in the title role of “Annie” in 1977, a major musical based on the comic strip “Little Orphan Annie.”

Rebecca Carroll plays Peggy Sawyer, the girl from Allentown, Penn. who stumbles her way (literally) into success, colliding with “Pretty Lady” director Julian Marsh, played by Christopher Sanders, during a play rehearsal. Sanders approaches the character from a place of authority, can care for the actors in his play, and connects with Carrol’s character Sawyer in a heart-warming moment of encouragement audiences need to see.

“42nd Street” is full of high-energy tap dancing that excites the senses across multiple stage numbers. It is evident to the audience cast worked for hours on end to master the moves and to perform in unison.

Collins Rush, who plays tenor Billy Lawyer, shines during “We’re in the Money.” His tenor voice and dancing abilities have a lot of what it takes to steal the stage.

The “money” set shined, giving the audience a transporting the audience back to the art deco Great Depression New York City. The period costumes were displayed with great detail and are a welcome sight for anyone who appreciates classic style.

“42nd Street” is based on a 1932 novel by Bradford Ropes which producers turned into a movie the following year. The story showed its staying power when, 47 years later, producers brought the story to the Broadway stage to wide acclaim.

In the show, the characters live in a world of turmoil and breadlines, in a city where few have hope for jobs and a future for their families following the 1929 stock market crash. Marsh and his company of actors are putting everything on the line to ensure “Pretty Lady” is a success.

“42nd Street” not only gives us a glimpse into what life was like in the U.S. nearly 100 years ago but also into the world of entertainment and how some colorful characters like Abner Dillon, played by Ian Lane, can be swooned by a leading lady to foot the bill.

Ultimately, “Pretty Lady” is a smash, and “42nd Street” has a happy ending that leaves theatergoers smiling long after the curtain closes. The cast and crew at Riverside have done it again — bringing Broadway’s best to the Fredericksburg region in Stafford County.

“42nd Street” runs through Sept. 10, 2023, at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, 95 Riverside Parkway in Stafford County.

Wednesday Matinees from 11:30 am-12:45 pm: Meal Service & Light Fare Offerings. The show begins at 1:30 pm. Those who want to see the show should arrive at 12:45 pm.

Performances on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings: Dinner is served from 5:30 pm until 6:45 pm. Those coming for the show should arrive at 6:45 pm. The show starts at 7:30 pm.

Riverside also offers Sunday Matinees, with meal service from 1 pm until 2:15 pm, with the show starting at 3 pm. Those who are coming for the show should arrive at 2:15 pm.

The show runs for about two and a half hours. Tickets range between $55 and $70 and can be purchased online.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is now on stage at the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Stafford County.

Tickets for the show are sold online and at the box office and range between $60 and $75 each for adults, $55 and $70 for children between ages three and 12, and $55 and $75 per ticket for seniors aged 55 or older. Those who purchase the higher-priced tickets will enjoy meal service before the show.

Thursday to Saturday, meals are served at 5:30 p.m. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Ticket holders who want to see the show should arrive at 6:45 p.m. Riverside charges a $5 fee per ticket purchased online.

Riverside offers two matinee performances on Wednesday and Sunday. On Wednesday, meals are served at 11:30 a.m., and the show begins at 1:30 p.m. Those who come only for the show should arrive at 12:45 p.m.

On Sundays, dinner is served at 1 p.m., and the show starts at 3 p.m.

Riverside Center sits at 95 Riverside Parkway in southern Stafford County.