During this wonderful time of the year, I enjoy going to uplifting places that put you in the mood…read moreto celebrate the Holiday Season. So this Wednesday, that is precisely what I did. After being awarded the Yelp Triad Squad Yelper of the Year 2024 Award at the Yelpies Award Ceremony last year, an event that honored the highest-performing Yelp Elites, celebrating their contributions and accomplishments throughout the year, I decided that this year, as an All-Star Yelp Elite, I not only wanted to be the first to discover new restaurants, businesses, and entertainment venues, and bring them to the attention of the public, but also to uncover those found in hidden paths that for one reason or another have not reached the public in its totality. And Mill Mountain Theatre, in Roanoke, Virginia, is a perfect example. Located in the Center In The Square building, in the heart of Downtown Roanoke, Mill Mountain Theatre is a professional regional theater presenting musicals and plays year-round. It is the gem of the performing arts of the Star City of Roanoke. Ever since I was a kid and watched a Broadway Musical for the very first time at the young age of 12, in New York City, I was inspired by the acting, by the plot, and by the meaningfulness of the words of the songs. The musical was Pippin, with Pippin played by John Rubinstein, and featuring Ben Vereen as the leading player. Then while living in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, I had the privilege of enjoying one of my favorite musicals, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," with the main character Joseph, played by Donny Osmond, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. But even if this all sounds like a great experience, what is even greater is that I had the opportunity of visiting over 50 community theaters in New England while I was living there. From small theaters in farms where the seats were haystacks, to theaters in small towns in which the seats escalated upwards to be able to accommodate enough people to watch the show, to dinner theater where you were able to enjoy a meal in a cozy room with a stage, where the play was performed. Today, after having dinner at the Six and Sky Rooftop Grille, located in the same building as the Mill Mountain Theatre, I came down to the first floor to watch "A Christmas Story." As I arrived to the entrance of the theater, a very friendly and welcoming lady volunteer, scanned my front row, center ticket, and showed me to the entrance hall that led into the theater. Once there, another gentleman volunteer, took a look at my ticket and showed me the way to the front row seat. The stage was not the largest, but a perfect size to put on a great number of good plays. They did an excellent job building the set scenery with a nice collection of props. The actors did an almost flawless performance in which you were even able to see their character's personalities transformed into their own. It was a very impactful production. It effectively used humor to engage the audience while tackling the serious and important subject of bullying. This blend often helps make the serious messages more relatable and memorable. The intermission served as a time to relax and maybe visit the beautifully designed consecion stand for some refreshments. After the show, it was nice to find that a door led directly to the parking building where I had parked my Lexus. In conclusion, the Star City of Roanoke and its community is enriched by having this very unique little performing arts center. By bringing people together for shared learning and cultural experiences, this theater fosters social connections, community pride, and a greater sense of belonging.

We went to see the production Annie last night and it was an absolutely amazing performance. They…read morereally have a well-produced performance and the facility was great. My only complaint was the spacing between the rows of seating in which had there would have been anyone sitting in front of me they would have had my knees pushing against the back of their chair, making both of us uncomfortable. However, the performance and venue itself were 5 star all the way. It's an amazing theater organization offering acting classes and really have a great presence in the area. Last year they did a production at the Bent Mountain Center of James and the Giant Peach and it was a phenomenal production as well. Some of these actors and actresses were in Annie as well and it is great to see their growth since the last performance we saw them in. The acting and choreography was excellent and exceeded my expectations - the talent and ability of our hometown theatrical group here is amazing! We loved it! You have to check them out. They have a nice list of productions for 2025 which we plan on being regulars to support them. Such an enjoyable time! Please check them out!

Many of us are aware of the Southwest Virginia Ballet (SVB) through their yearly production of the…read moreNutcracker, presented in the Berglund Center for the Performing Arts. But few are aware that it is a premier non-profit, pre-professional youth dance company, based in Roanoke, Virginia, and currently celebrating 35 years in the Roanoke Valley. Established in 1990 by Tess (Terri) Post, SVB is a significant part of the Roanoke Valley's artistic landscape and has achieved recognition locally and beyond. Its mission focuses on making pre-professional dance training accessible, enriching the community through dance, and providing performing arts experiences for all ages. They provide free training to young dancers in the region and offer outreach programs for underserved individuals across Southwest Virginia.  For the Southwest Virginia Ballet's 2025 Nutcracker, they are featuring a live orchestra, the Viena Light Orchestra, composed of professional and pre-professional musicians, from different countries, and conducted by Dr.Wayne Gallops. The Ballet also has a new Artistic Director, Laurence Blake, making it a performance one can't miss. What better way of understanding what the Southwest Virginia Ballet is all about, than going in person to watch this performance of the Nutcracker. And that is precisely what I did. Having obtained a front row center seat, I was able to watch an amazing performance, from the main roles to the most insignificant ones. And as I watched the performance, I thought to myself how learning ballet and performing significantly boosts youth self-esteem by fostering confidence through skill mastery, providing an outlet for self-expression, building resilience against challenges, promoting a positive body image, and creating a supportive community, leading to increased self-worth and a stronger sense of self-assurance both on and off the stage.

Southwest Virginia Ballet is an award-winning organization whose mission is to provide the highest…read morequality dance experience to as diverse a group of young people as possible -- all for free! Every year dancers at Southwest Virginia Ballet perform "The Nutcracker," filling the Performing Arts Theatre at the Berglund Center for four performances over three days in December. These same dancers step on stage for free demonstrations at Elmwood Park and the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, as well as ticketed performances in Roanoke and across Southwest Virginia. SVB is the only organization in our area to create performances of such high caliber with student dancers alone. It's a group that draws ballet dancers from Blacksburg, Henry County, Botetourt County, Galax and beyond. They come together to a newly renovated studio in the Roanoke Industrial Center every Saturday from August through May.

As an adult tapper, I cannot be happier about my dance experience. I love being in recitals-…read moreespecially the costumes! After 18 years with Miss Sharon , I can say that If I can dance then, yes, you can dance, too! FYI- I started dance at 57 years young!

I've been with this studio for eleven years and can honestly say it's been such an amazing…read moreexperience. They have the most caring and wonderful teachers. It's such a pleasure to dance with this studio. Would always recommend this studio to anyone who is interested in learning to dance or even just going to have fun!