March 24, 2026
The 1990s have been having a moment, whether it comes to fashion or social media trends – there’s no escaping the “Mom/Dad, what were you like in the ’90s?” videos doing the rounds on Instagram and Facebook. And, that era that brought us grunge and hiphop, “Friends” and “Seinfeld,” boybands, “Titanic,” Blockbuster and the Spice Girls – and which was marked by the absence of the ubiquity of cellphones – is being celebrated in the 46th annual Spring Follies, themed “Back to the ’90s.”
The show, directed by actor and musician Russell Rinker and Laurel Ridge library archivist John Owens, is scheduled for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., Saturday, April 11, and 2 p.m., Sunday, April 12, on the Middletown Campus. Pre-show activities, including face painting, games, free ice cream and food for sale by the Cub Scouts, begin 90 minutes before each performance.
Owens said shortly after wrapping up last year’s Follies, the performers selected this year’s theme.
“‘Back to the ’90s’ was the runaway winner,” he said. “I think it’s really special for a lot of us – our formative years were in that time period. This is a more music-heavy show than some of the others that we’ve done. The show is going to kind of be built around one central act, which is our take on MTV’s “Total Request Live.” We will be doing a Top 10 countdown throughout the show.
“Our kids will be doing everything from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to a Disney medley.”
Other highlights include Owens portraying Macho Man Randy Savage; Professor Jim Brumbaugh and his son, Sam, doing a “Wayne’s World” skit; a saxophone solo by Gil Groom; and the return, for the third year in a row, of Malcolm Lerch, 87, who was a performer in the Follies shows of the 1970s.
Owens said there are about 25 performers this year, made up of Laurel Ridge students, alumni, faculty and staff, as well as members of the community. He said preparation for this year started when the 2025 show wrapped, giving everyone an edge.
“In fact, we already have a theme for next year’s Follies picked out,” said Owens.
Tickets to the family-friendly show are $5, and free for children 5 and under. Proceeds benefit the Andrea Ludwick Performing Arts Fund. Learn more at laurelridge.edu/follies.
Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.