As we previously mentioned, there a lot of talented performers from all over Virginia coming to Sipe Center this year. Spencer Hatcher with his band The Ol’ Song gang, all from Rockingham County, will be at Sipe Center TONIGHT! Before COVID struck, Spencer was a member of the world famous bluegrass band, Nick Chandler and Delivered. Perhaps, though, he achieved greater fame when a national branding campaign—and an internet viral frenzy—featured his original song, “Mountain Dew Major Melon.”
Spencer was honored as a 2019 IBMA Official Ramble Showcase Artist, and he is a bluegrass and country talent like no other. He has now returned to his native Shenandoah Valley, and Sipe Center is pleased to present this local boy turned national sensation!
Geoff Marsh is traveling to Bridgewater from Floyd for an evening of juggling, puppetry and magic. The whole family will enjoy this performance on Friday, October 14. Geoff Marsh has been performing all over the world for the last 15 years with his unique circus stunts and zany marionette puppets at schools, family festivals, and Renaissance fairs. In addition to his yearly shows, Geoff volunteers with “Clowns Without Borders”, a non-profit organization that offers laughter in hospitals, refugee camps, crisis areas, disaster zones, migrant camps, neighborhoods, and schools of extreme poverty.
Geoff’s act also includes walk-around performances between stage shows with his marionette puppets that interact and engage guests. There is a lifelike dog Marionette that loves to play with kids and a skeleton marionette that performs comedy, standup, impersonations, and various dances from around the world and finales by puppeteering the kids without any strings. Watch a preview below.
The Richmond Symphony is bringing a string quartet to our stage on November 5. Tickets are $20 to this night of classical music. Founded in 1957, the Richmond Symphony is the largest performing arts organization in Central Virginia. The organization includes an orchestra of more than 70 professional musicians, the 150-voice Richmond Symphony Chorus and more than 260 students in the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra programs. Each season, more than 200,000 members of the community enjoy concerts, radio broadcasts, and educational outreach programs. The Richmond Symphony is partially funded by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. This will be the first classical performance on the Sipe Center stage and we are very pleased to bring in this renowned symphony.
The last group coming to Sipe Center is from Abingdon. The Barter Theatre will present Frosty: The Musical on Sunday, December 18. Tickets are $30 and you can see a preview of their performance below. Barter Theatre is the state theatre of Virginia, the nation’s longest running professional theatre, and has received countless awards and accolades over its history. Barter Theatre has been a launching pad for the careers of many iconic actors and actresses. Barter Theatre opened its doors on June 10, 1933; proclaiming “With vegetables you cannot sell, you can buy a good laugh.” The price of admission was 40 cents or an equivalent amount of produce. Four out of five theatre goers paid their way with vegetables, dairy products and livestock.
To the surprise of many, all the seats for the first show were filled. The concept of trading “ham for Hamlet” caught on quickly. At the end of the first season, the Barter Company cleared $4.35 in cash, two barrels of jelly, and a collective weight gain of over 300 pounds. Today, at least one performance a year celebrates Barter’s history by accepting donations for Feeding America Southwest Virginia. The Barter Theatre is more than just history, they continue to produce award winning productions and tour nationally every year. We’re excited to bring this high quality theatre company to Bridgewater.
You can purchase tickets any scheduled live performance on our website, over the phone or in person during box office hours.