court square theater harrisonburg
Image courtesy of Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority

A trio of community meetings to discuss the future of Court Square Theater will be held next month in downtown Harrisonburg.

The goal is to gather community input on the performance space at two in-person events and one virtual meeting.

The meetings will be held:

  • Feb. 5, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Court Square Theater
  • Feb. 7, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Court Square Theater
  • Feb. 9, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., virtual meeting

Registration for all three meetings is available online.

The first 30 minutes of the in-person meetings will include a walk-through of the theater, introduction and welcome message. Participants will then participate in small group discussions upstairs at Capital Ale House.

The community meetings will be held in partnership with facilitators from James Madison University’s Institute for Constructive Advocacy and Dialogue, community facilitator Eddie Bumbaugh and staff from Act One Theater Company.

“We are excited to hear from the community regarding their thoughts on the long-term vision for Court Square Theater, said Michael Wong, executive director of Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority.

“The theater holds a special place in the hearts of many community members, and we hope that we can find a sustainable solution to allow the theater to operate for years to come.”

The Arts Council of the Valley voted on Dec. 17 to close Court Square Theater at the end of 2025 due to high overhead costs and a lack of ticket sales.

ICYMI

Act One Theater Company stepped in and secured a short-term lease agreement to keep the venue open through the end of the year. It is partnering with the HRHA to explore the best use of the space beyond 2026.

The Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority has raised nearly $8,000 in funds to support the continued operations of Court Square Theater. The theater needs a minimum of $60,000 per year to pay for operational expenses such as utilities, maintenance and insurance.

Donations for Court Square Theater operations are being accepted at https://harrisonburgrha.com/.

Published by Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is a reporter and ad manager for Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at crystal@augustafreepress.com.