FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Riverside Center for the Performing Arts will launch its summer season with Next to Normal, a Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical that blends rock music with raw emotion to tell the story of a family navigating the stormy waters of mental illness and grief.

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MANASSAS, Va. – Elle Woods is heading to Harvard Law — and to the local stage!

Pied Piper Theatre, the youth division of the ARTfactory in Manassas, is bringing the high-energy musical Legally Blonde to life on Friday and Saturday, June 27 and 28, from 7 to 9 p.m. Based on the 2001 hit movie and the novel by Amanda Brown, the show follows Elle, a stylish sorority queen who proves she’s more than just a pretty face when she enrolls at Harvard to win back her ex — and ends up finding her true self instead.

The ARTfactory, a nonprofit arts center housed in the historic Hopkins Candy Factory building in downtown Manassas, has been a cornerstone of the local arts scene since 1984. It offers a wide range of programs, including visual arts education, dance classes, summer camps, and the Caton Merchant Family Gallery, which showcases local and regional artists.

Pied Piper Theatre, catering to students aged 8–18, provides hands-on training in all aspects of theater and produces multiple full-length productions each season.

For tickets and more details, visit the ARTfactory’s website.

This weekend marks your last chance to catch two standout productions on local stages before the curtains close for good.

At the ARTfactory in Manassas, Lend Me a Soprano wraps up its run with performances through Sunday. This fast-paced farce, written by Ken Ludwig, offers a hilarious backstage comedy that’s been praised for its sharp direction, standout cast, and intimate setting. According to a review from the ARTfactory, the show “delivers big laughs in a small space” and makes the most of its cozy venue to pull audiences into the operatic chaos. Tickets and details are available at virginiaartfactory.org.

Meanwhile, To Kill a Mockingbird enters its final weekend at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Stafford. The production stars Fredericksburg native Tug Coker as Atticus Finch and has resonated with local audiences since its opening. Potomac Local News previously featured Coker in two stories—one introducing his lead role (read it here) and another in our podcast where he reflects on portraying the iconic character (listen here). Sunday is the final performance.

MANASSAS, Va. – The ARTfactory is inviting audiences on a journey back to 1930s Berlin with its new production of Cabaret, opening this season at the Wind River Theater. 🎭

Known for immersive theater experiences, the ARTfactory will transform the performance space into the smoky, seductive Kit Kat Club — the setting of the iconic musical. Audiences will step into a world where glitz, music, and freedom clash with rising political darkness.

For those unfamiliar, Cabaret is a Tony Award-winning musical that tells the story of Sally Bowles, a bold American singer performing at the Kit Kat Club, and her relationship with a British writer named Cliff Bradshaw. The show unfolds during the final years of the Weimar Republic as the Nazi party gains strength, with the Emcee serving as a surreal guide through the club’s performances and the changing world outside. With memorable numbers like “Wilkommen,” “Maybe This Time,” and “Cabaret,” the show is equal parts dazzling and sobering.

Guests can choose from general admission or premium floor seating, including optional enhancements like priority seating, wine flights from Nokesville Winery, and charcuterie boxes from Pampas Fox Catering. All tickets include pre-show entertainment beginning 30 minutes before curtain. Showtimes are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., July 11 to 27.

For tickets and details, visit the ARTfactory’s website.

Headed to the stage first, however, is Lend Me a Soprano, a fast-paced farce by acclaimed playwright Ken Ludwig. Running through June 22, this gender-swapped adaptation of Ludwig’s Lend Me a Tenor is set in 1934 at the Cleveland Grand Opera Company.

The plot centers on Lucille Wylie, the opera manager, who faces a series of comedic mishaps when the star soprano arrives late, her jealous husband causes a scene, and the assistant Jo must step in to save the performance of Carmen. Directed by Vince Worthington, the production promises a night of laughter with mistaken identities and backstage chaos. Performances are held at the Wind River Theater, with shows on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Located in the historic Candy Factory building in Old Town Manassas, the ARTfactory serves as a regional hub for arts, theater, and cultural education. It offers classes, exhibits, and live performances year-round, supporting creativity and community engagement across Northern Virginia.

We’re thrilled to bring you a special episode of the Potomac Local News Podcast with actor Tug Coker, who is joining us to discuss his upcoming role in To Kill a Mockingbird at the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg.

In this episode, Tug shares insights into his career, which spans TV, Broadway, and film, and talks about his return home to perform in this iconic American play. He opens up about his roots in Fredericksburg and what it means to come back and perform for a local audience. The conversation also touches on the relevance of To Kill a Mockingbird in today’s society and how theater continues to serve as a powerful medium for community connection and the exchange of ideas.

Show Details:
Performance Dates: Now through June 22, 2025
Location: Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, Fredericksburg
Website: riversidedt.com

Listen to the full interview below and get your tickets to see To Kill a Mockingbird at Riverside Center:

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to see Tug and the talented cast bring this powerful story to life. We hope you enjoy the podcast and make plans to attend the show!

VINT HILL, Va. – A robust new musical set during the Great War is coming to the Journey Theater in Vint Hill for a limited two-day run. Into the Sun, written by Virginia-based composer and historian Michael Gubser, explores the toll of war on a brother and sister who find themselves swept up in the antiwar resistance.

Presented by Triune Entertainment, Into the Sun follows Freddy and Mary Sigfried as they navigate the emotional and moral upheavals of World War I. Freddy, eager to serve, rises through the military ranks but is haunted by the consequences of leadership. Meanwhile, Mary breaks with tradition by taking a job in a munitions factory, eventually grappling with the ethics of her work.

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MANASSAS PARK, Va. – The Manassas Park High School Theatre Department is bringing a delightfully spooky classic to life this week with performances of The Addams Family Musical. The show runs from May 1 through May 4 and promises an evening filled with laughter, eerie tunes, and all the charm of the famously offbeat Addams clan.

In a post on social media, Manassas Park City Public Schools invited the community to enjoy “a spooktacular night of laughter, music, and macabre fun,” encouraging folks to snag tickets before they disappear. The musical, based on the iconic characters created by Charles Addams, follows the family’s hilarious antics as daughter Wednesday falls in love with someone “normal.”

The performances showcase the talents of MPHS student actors, singers, and crew members who’ve worked hard to transform their school stage into the Addamses’ gothic world.

Tickets can be purchased online at this link.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Broadway actor and Fredericksburg native Tug Coker is stepping into one of the most iconic roles in American theater—Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird—as he makes his hometown stage debut at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts. The production runs May 7 through June 22, 2025.

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BRISTOW, Va. – Triune Entertainment has announced its 2025–26 theater season, featuring productions of Annie, The Prince of Egypt, and Tick, Tick… Boom!. The performances will take place at Journey Stage in Warrenton, Va., starting in November 2025. The company is also in rehearsals for Into the Sun, a new original musical by Virginia composer Michael Gubser.

PRESS RELEASE:

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The timeless drama All My Sons by legendary playwright Arthur Miller returns to the stage in an Actors Theatre production at the ARTfactory in Manassas. First premiering in 1947, Miller’s powerful exploration of morality, ambition, and the consequences of personal decisions remains as compelling today as it was in the post-World War II era.

Set in the aftermath of the war, All My Sons follows Joe Keller, a businessman whose wartime actions carry tragic repercussions. As the past unravels, Joe and those closest to him are forced to confront hard truths about sacrifice, ambition, and the moral cost of pursuing the American Dream. The play’s deep exploration of human choices and the weight of deception makes it one of Miller’s most enduring works.

The ARTfactory production, directed by Ahryel Tinker, promises to bring fresh perspective to the classic play, with a talented cast and innovative staging designed to highlight the emotional and psychological depth of the characters. The cast includes Scott Murphy-Neilson, Kimberly Kemp, Andrew Chi, Raeanna Nicole Larson, Chris Beatley, Eleanore Tapscott, Joshua Mutterperl, Devyn Tinker, Anastasia Hanchak, and Noah Delune.

Performances will be held at the Wind River Theater at the ARTfactory on April 3, 5, 6, 11, 12, and 13, with showtimes at 7:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sundays. The April 3 performance will be a special “pay what you can” event, with tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the ARTfactory website at virginiaartfactory.org.