Blue Man performer, Strasburg native Russell Rinker directs “Best of Broadway” Cabaret at LFCC

Strasburg High School graduate Russell Rinker, a successful actor and musician, is coming to Lord Fairfax Community College this month to direct its first-ever cabaret, “Best of Broadway.” The shows are at 7 p.m. April 27 and 28, and 2:30 p.m. April 29. Rehearsals start Sunday, April 22.

Rinker, finishing up the Broadway National Tour of “Amazing Grace” – he plays Capt. Newton – following the show’s two-month residency in Washington, D.C., has long ties to LFCC.

His mother, Judy, was the first Shenandoah County resident to enroll at LFCC in 1970, and was a member of the first graduating class, the class of 1972. Additionally, she was the Outstanding Graduate that year, and worked at the college for 32 years, many as executive secretary to the president. Last year, Judy Rinker was awarded a Medallion of Recognition for all she has done for Lord Fairfax.

Russell Rinker’s father, Rick, a retired law enforcement officer, has taught criminology courses at LFCC. Both Judy and Rick Rinker have performed in LFCC’s Fairfax Follies shows in the past. Their son has often served as musical director of the follies.

“I was in my first Fairfax Follies at the age of 4,” Russell Rinker says. “My sister [Kelly Cauthorn] was, too. It was a big family thing every year.”

He was in the show singing, dancing and acting in skits, every year until he went away to the College of William and Mary where he studied theater and English. Rinker would return when he could, depending on where he was living and working at the time.

One of Rinker’s biggest successes has come as a long-time member of Blue Man Group, including five years in Las Vegas. When that ended in 2014, he returned to the Washington, D.C. area where he has mostly done musical theater.

“I’ve been pretty lucky to be working as an actor, or a musician, or both, for most of my adult life,” Rinker says.

His return to the East Coast has meant he has been able to be the musical director of Fairfax Follies, with Professor Andrea Ludwick, serving as director, in recent years. His tour with “Amazing Grace,” which wraps up this week, meant the Follies won’t be put on this year. But, there is the right amount of time to stage the “Best of Broadway” Cabaret instead.

“Coming to see the show is a great way to support the arts, especially locally,” Rinker says. “This is good, old-fashioned entertainment. It’s family friendly.”

Tickets for the shows are $5 for adults and $2 for students and children under 12. They’re available at the door of the McCoy Theatre.

For more information, visit www.lfcc.edu/cabaret.