Posted on September 13, 2007
Move over, Regal Cinemas. It’s time to shine the spotlight on a hidden treasure of Harrisonburg — downtown’s Court Square Theater. Offering more than just films, the theater showcases musical artists, dance troups, plays and children’s programs.
Along with the many different artists brought to Harrisonburg, independent and foreign films are featured at the theater.
Senior Drew Nassengill has seen the films “Grizzly Man” and “The Science of Sleep” at the theater. He is a member of JMU’s film club, Cinemuse, which supports the venue.
The attributes of theater are great — it’s eclectic, [and an] intimate setting,” Nassengill said.
Once the location of The Rockingham Motor Company, the theater shares the same building as Cally’s Restaurant and Brewing Co. (formerly known as Calhoun’s), located in Court Square off of Main Street. Roughly a year after the theater’s opening in ’99, several members of the community formed the Art Council of Harrisonburg to take over the theater’s operations.
Business manager Tina Owens describes the theater as a reflection of the diversity of the ater.
“We try to bring things in that are popular to the town,” Owens said.
The theater hosts a Latin Film Festival in October, an event that Spanish professor Karina Kline-Gabel promotes. Along with teaching, Gabel is the head of programming at the theater.
Junior Kristen Anderson attended the film “Havana Nights” during last year’s festival. She was surprised at the turnout and remembers not finding a seat in the center rows despite showing up early.
“I’d go back to see another Spanish film, because I’m not taking any Spanish classes and it would be a good way to keep up with the language and throw myself into that culture,” Anderson said.
Other examples of the theater reflecting the community’s interests are the bluegrass performances which are featured once a month, and the children’s Playhouse Theater, which occurs every spring and is put on by JMU theater students.
Junior Rebecca Popp attended Hansel and Gretel in ’06 during the Playhouse and was pleased by the theater’s old-fashioned style.
“That’s what made the show—the atmosphere,” she said. “I love when you come in [to the theater] and they have the [old-fashioned] refreshment stand. They keep it to style.”
Though Popp hasn’t been back to the theater since, she cited money as the only issue keeping her away.
“I’m not willing to spend the money, but all the things there interest me,” she said.
The prices differ for each kind of event. Last year the theater charged $20 for a John Jorgenson concert. The money was a small price to pay for guitar fans to see the internationally acclaimed artist who has collaborated with Elton John, Billy Joel and Sting.
Other artists featured at the theater include Peter Owen and Tony Rice, Johnny Winter (who played at Woodstock), The Hackensaw Boys and the Count Basie Orchestra. Though Owens has seen many events at the theater, she especially loved seeing the Count Basie Orchestra.
“The leader [of the band] actually played with Count Basie. There’s so much legacy there. [It] was really special to be a part of that.”
Owens said the hardest part of her job “is finding enough time in the day to get everything done to have the show happen successfully.”
Audiences are mostly made up of families and older members of the community, but the Art Council tries to reach out to younger crowds too. They are starting a new film event for teenagers called “$5 Fridays.”
“We try to have a little bit of something for everyone,” Owens said.
Nassengill further drover her point home in saying, “You can go hear a bluegrass performer [there] and you can also go see [films by] Michael Moore.”
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