Forbes Center for the Performing Arts Open House

The Forbes Center for the Performing Arts is the destination for world-class theatre, dance and music entertainment in the Shenandoah Valley. To celebrate the 15th Anniversary Season, the Forbes Center will open its doors to the Shenandoah Valley community for an Open House on Saturday, August 31 from 10 am to 2 pm.  

Guests can attend an interactive dance workshop and mini theatre and musical theatre rehearsals; learn about the design and construction of Steinway pianos; get an inside view of the Marching Royal Dukes; learn about sound design; experience demonstrations on stage combat, and stage make up; and learn about the development of costumes from the page to the stage. Plus, much, much more! Children will be able to make theatre masks, get their faces painted, and participate in theatre games and other family friendly activities. 

Free parking will be available in the Warsaw Parking Deck, directly behind the Forbes Center. 

We look forward to welcoming you to the Forbes Center for Performing Arts!  

Schedule of Activities

All Day

• Guided Tours (Grand Lobby) - Backstage tours will leave from the Grand Lobby every 15 minutes from 10 am to 2 pm. (Tours are 30 minutes in length.)
• Discover the Costume Shop (Costume Shop) - Take a look inside Forbes' very own costume shop. See what students and staff alike have worked on!

10 AM

• Theatre Games for Kids (Studio Theatre) - Explore theatre exercises for kids with Rachel Rhoades, who teaches theatre education as Assistant Professor of Theatre at JMU.
• The Wonders of a Steinway Piano (Recital Hall) - Join our Steinway Piano Technician Jocelyn Chan in discovering what makes a Steinway piano special. Journey through the making of a Steinway piano and get to hear our concert grand up close.

10:30 AM

• The Magic of Stage Combat (Mainstage Theatre) - Ben Lambert, Co-Director of the School of Theatre and Dance, teaches this session on the magic of stage combat.
• Technical Theatre - Stage Makeup Session (Room 2240) - See what it takes to look bruised, scarred, or old on stage with Sarah Cramer, a guest make-up artist joining us from the Wayne Theatre. 

11:15 AM

• Behind the Scenes with the Marching Royal Dukes (Concert Hall) - Join Director Scott Rikkers as he provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Marching Royal Dukes and all that goes into making them America's favorite collegiate marching band!

11:30 AM

• Families Dance Together - Exploring Creative Movement (Earlynn J. Miller Dance Theatre) - Join Suzanne Miller-Corso, Professor of Dance, and her students for a workshop on dance and creative movement.

12:00 PM

• Peel Back the Curtain: An Inside Peek Into a Musical Theatre Rehearsal (Recital Hall) - Every wonder what happens in the rehearsal room to prepare a musical for performance? Join Kate Arecchi, Musical Theatre Coordinator in the School of Theatre and Dance, as she coaches MT majors on songs from musicals like Shrek, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Frozen.

12:30 PM

• The Magic of Stage Combat (Mainstage Theatre) - Ben Lambert, Co-Director of the School of Theatre and Dance, teaches this session on the magic of stage combat.

12:45 PM

• Theatre Games for Kids (Studio Theatre) - Explore theatre exercises for kids with Rachel Rhoades, who teaches theatre education as Assistant Professor of Theatre at JMU.

1 PM

• Peel Back the Curtain: An Inside Peek Into a Musical Theatre Rehearsal (Recital Hall) - Ever wonder what happens in the rehearsal room to prepare a musical for performance? Join Kate Arecchi, Musical Theatre Coordinator in the School of Theatre and Dance, as she coaches MT majors on songs from musicals like Shrek, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Frozen.

1:15 PM

• Technical Theatre - Sound Session (Mainstage Theatre) - Learn the ins and outs of sound design in technical theatre with Simon Marland, Assistant Professor of Sound Design.
• Technical Theatre - Stage Makeup Session (Room 2240) - See what it takes to look bruised, scarred, or old on stage with Sarah Cramer, a guest make-up artist joining us from the Wayne Theatre.