Because creativity is a vital force across all ages, backgrounds, and economic levels, the mission of Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is to promote the creative and performing arts from its optimal location in Stafford County to the greater Fredericksburg community and surrounding regions.
Riverside presents theatrical productions, nurtures an array of artists, and offers transformative educational programs as it conducts community outreach programs in a collaborative and dynamic environment.
On June 18, 1998, Riverside Center Dinner Theater and Conference Facility raised the curtain on the theater’s inaugural production of Oklahoma!, realizing Rollin E. Wehman’s dream of musical theatre in a dinner theater format for the Fredericksburg community. A circle of devoted investors built a beautiful facility with not only a traditional proscenium stage, Virginia’s only dinner theatre fly loft, and seating at tables on tiered levels for over 400, but also a chandeliered lobby and ballroom for community events.
In the 27 years since, hundreds of critically acclaimed mainstage musicals, plays, guest artists and Children’s Theatre productions continued to validate Mr. Wehman’s vision. Under the leadership of Patrick A’Hearn since 2010, Riverside continued to gain credibility as a quality theatre destination to become a major regional theater along the Richmond, VA to Washington, DC corridor.
In 2016, the business rebranded as Riverside Center for the Performing Arts, with an ever-widening reputation and recognition for production excellence attracting performers from the Broadway stage and national-tour casts.
The addition of the live orchestra prompted musical theatre critics to cite Riverside Center as “consistently demonstrating high-quality, professional-caliber productions” and “one of the best places to see musicals in the D.C. area.”
2020 impacted Riverside Center, like all theaters and performing arts organizations, with the challenge of the covid pandemic. Riverside met the challenge with resilience and fortitude as it remained relevant throughout the period. With strong leadership and the great fortune of being granted the Shuttered Venue grant, Riverside came out stronger than ever before.
In 2024 Riverside Center attained the status of a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, allowing it to expand the commitment to the vibrancy of our community through educational programs and scholarships to deserving students furthering their careers in the performing arts. With grants and generous contributions from the public, Riverside offers an annual summer performing arts camp free of charge to economically disadvantaged children and youth.
Riverside Center for the Performing Arts remains today a steadfast resource for Broadway-quality entertainment in Virginia.
CEO and Producing Artistic Director
Patrick A’Hearn
Associate Producing Artistic Director & Music Supervisor
Carson Eubank
Operations Manager
Reggie Eusebio
Production Manager
Aaron Thomas Moore
Company Manager
Holly Mayers
Director of Marketing and Development
Allison Mayberry
Director of Group Sales
Alexis Franklin
Box Office Manager
Nancy Huffine
Box Office Associates
Kristen Meade, Tammi Alford, Joan DeShazo
House Manager
Sheri Hayden
Executive Chef
Stefan Boutchyard
Accountant
Amber Harley