Just days after it appeared the Court Square Theater would go dark, the downtown Harrisonburg venue was filled once again with laughter, applause, and renewed optimism.
Rocktown Improv took the stage Friday night for a First Friday show that doubled as a celebration of survival for the theater, which had been slated to close at the end of 2025 after the Arts Council of the Valley announced it could no longer operate the space due to financial constraints.
“The rumors of our death have been greatly exaggerated,” improv performer John Huffman joked as he opened the show, raising an imaginary glass to the theater and its future.
Since the closure announcement, multiple local organizations have stepped in to keep the nearly three-decade-old theater alive. Among them is Act One Theater Company, which will take over the lease of Court Square Theater from the Harrisonburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority (HRHA) and manage day-to-day operations throughout 2026 under a new short-term agreement.
Act One, which originally began at Court Square before becoming an independent organization, had already scheduled several productions at the venue—including a youth production of The Little Mermaid—when news of the closure surfaced.
“I can’t let down 85 kids,” said Act One’s JP Gulla, who previously managed the theater and is now helping guide its operations once again. “This space matters to the community.”
Under the new arrangement, Act One will maintain performances and programming without interruption, while the HRHA leads fundraising efforts and hosts outreach meetings to gather community input on the theater’s long-term future. Discussions with additional partners, including James Madison University, are expected in the coming months.
Friday’s improv show drew a larger-than-usual crowd and raised nearly $1,000 through suggested donations to support efforts to keep the theater running. For Rocktown Improv, which has rehearsed and performed at Court Square since 2008, the news brought relief.
“This has been our home base,” Huffman said. “The theater community came together faster than we expected.”
Performers and supporters alike described the venue as irreplaceable—not just for improv, but for plays, films, community events, and youth programming that have filled the space since it opened in 1998.
While some uncertainty remains about the theater’s full 2026 schedule, Act One leaders say the next year offers a critical window to rally community support and chart a sustainable path forward.
“This is our hub of creativity,” said Act One’s Leeanne Shepard. “Our community deserves a space where theater can happen in the heart of downtown.”
For now, the lights remain on at Court Square Theater—and the curtain is far from closing.
SOURCE: Daily News Record