from the ground up
A Season of Creativity Dawns in the Ag Reserve
Work begins on the Riverworks Performing Arts Center
Jeff Sypeck
A saddle-shaped cover will soon grace the Riverworks outdoor stage, attractively framing performers while shielding them from wind and sun.
Spring in Poolesville brings to turn the 19th-century building cool rains, warming breezes, a flurry of birds— and space is ready to begin.
into a 21st-century performance this year, a striking new
“ The stage cover reminds me landmark on West Willard Road. of the Sydney Opera House, but Like a billowing sail, it hints at ambitious intentions and a purposeful scale,” says Riverworks co-founder
on a smaller, perfectly Poolesville journey to come.
David Therriault, who notes that Rising on the grounds of the its specially engineered frame old Methodist church, the bright makes it easy to retract in the winter.“ It’ s our way of celebrating that white cover for the outdoor stage marks a milestone for Riverworks the arts have arrived in Poolesville, Art Center at the start of its fourth and that the year ahead is going to year. The eye-catching canopy announces, visibly and unequivocally, With concerts scheduled from
be a great one.”
that the long-awaited renovation spring to early fall, the stage will be the busiest spot in Poolesville on Saturday, May 31, at the third annual Taste of Riverworks festival. Free, fun, and open to all, the event features a full afternoon of outdoor performances, family-friendly activities, and an auction of artwork painted earlier in the day at scenic sites around the Ag Reserve.
This year’ s headliners, the Nighthawks, will remind Poolesville why their legendary blues and roots-rock sound has energized audiences across the D. C. area since the 1970s. The Nighthawks will share the outdoor stage with local dancers from Essence Studios and Hope Garden Children’ s Ballet Theatre, area musicians, and two hometown groups proudly sponsored by Riverworks: the Reserve Wind Ensemble, a growing all-ages community band, and the Riverworks Children’ s Choir, co-directed by a Juilliard-trained opera singer.
“ We’ re thrilled to be bringing in bigger, out-of-town acts, but we’ ll always be a place for local talent to shine, especially kids,” says Riverworks co-founder Sandy Wright.“ Free or low-cost events are a big part of what we’ re trying to do. They’ re how we give back to the community, and they’ re how we reach out to neighbors
18 plenty I spring sowing 2025