SOUTHERN CROSSROADS Replaces LIES AND LEGENDS At Wayside

Wayside Theatre's Artistic Director Warner Crocker is announcing a change in its 2008/09 Season Schedule. The next production was scheduled to be the musical review, Lies and Legends, the Songs and Stories of Harry Chapin. Instead of this offering, Crocker is programming an original musical piece of country and bluegrass flavor created just for Wayside Theatre called, Southern Crossroads. The production will star local musical sensation, Robbie Limon, and feature many of Wayside Theatre's favorite musical talents who have delighted audiences throughout the last several seasons. The performance is sponsored by Winchester Executive Suites, LLC.

It is the year, 1932, the USA is in the midst of the Great Depression. Everyone is struggling with trying to make ends meet and trying to feed their families as they look for some light at the end of a tunnel with the election of new president hopefully heralding better times ahead.

Wayside Theatre's next production, Southern Crossroads, written by Warner Crocker and Steve Przybylski and music arranged by Steve Przybylski, is set in these desperate times and follows a group of touring country musicians as they arrive in a small southern town to play a concert. On arriving they find the theatre's front doors padlocked, the house piano out on the street with a for sale sign on it, and no train fare to get home or to their next performance. If there will be a next performance. Frustrated, tired, hungry and worried about tomorrow, the intrepid band of musicians do what they know how to do. They set up in the street in front of the theatre and begin to play, hoping to draw a crowd and possibly enough funds tossed in their instrument cases to pay for a train ticket to the next town and maybe better prospects. Few of the songs featured in the production are: "House of the Rising Sun", Going Down the Road Feeling Bad", "Cripple Creek", "Tom Dooley", "I Saw the Light", "Shenandoah", "Sally Goodin' ", "Midnight Special", "Keep On the Sunny Side" and "Worried Man Blues."

According to Crocker, "I would like to say that this change is being done entirely for artistic reasons but it is not. Like everyone and every business, we are doing what we can to meet hard times brought about by the current economic crisis in our country, and of course here in our community. Wayside Theatre, like many not-for-profit arts organization is finding that it has to cut back significantly on its expenses to stay viable and operating. Since October 1, 2008 our total revenue, including ticket sales, donations, sponsorships, concession sales, and acting class revenue has been down by 47%. We experienced good sales for our recent production of the new musical production of A Christmas Carol, but unfortunately not enough for us to withstand having to make further cuts and consolidations. We already know that ticket sales are down. Individual and corporate funders have told us they will not be able to support the theatre to the same extent in the year ahead. We also know that the Virginia Commission for the Arts will severely cut back, if not withdraw all funding for arts agencies in this next year as well. Our goal is to use the remarkable body of professional artists we have available to us and be as creative and innovative as we can artistically, while being equally innovative in how we meet the challenge of continuing to offer the best quality professional entertainment in our region.

By changing this next production we are trying to accomplish three things:
First, we will eliminate having to pay royalties for the production which is a significant cost savings. All of the material being used is music that is in the public domain or being written exclusively for the show by Wayside Theatre artists. Wayside Theatre's resident music director and composer Steve Przybylski is assembling, arranging, and composing the music for the show, and Artistic Director Warner Crocker wrote an assembled the structure of the performance.

Second, Robbie Limon (Hank Williams: Lost Highway, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story) and the other artists who had been engaged for the production will still perform in that show. In addition to Limon, the ensemble of musicians will include Steve Przybylski (Smoke on the Mountain series, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Hank Williams: Lost Highway), Larry Dahlke (Hank Williams: Lost Highway, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Smoke on the Mountain series, A Christmas Story) Vaughn Irving (Buddy: the Buddy Holly Story, Forever Plaid, A Christmas Carol,) Thomasin Savaiano (Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, Always Patsy Cline, Smoke on the Mountain series), David Maga (Smoke on the Mountain trilogy, A Christmas Carol, The Mousetrap, The Killer Angels) and other veteran artists William Diggle (A Christmas Carol, and Kiss Me Kate), Leah Raulerson (Moonlight and Magnolias, Unnecessary Farce, The Mousetrap, A Christmas Carol), Matthew C. Baldoni (Unnecessary Farce, A Christmas Carol, and Romeo & Juliet), and Dacia Dick (Unnecessary Farce, A Christmas Carol).

Third, no one has a clue how or when the current economic climate will change. Even if predictions could be made, the theatre and entertainment sectors will lag behind any resurgence that may occur. We may, or may not, be looking at a period of time where we have to be more creative and innovative with our play selection, and rely more heavily on the gifts of the artists who care so much about Wayside Theatre that they consider it their artistic home.

Our primary objective is to keep Wayside Theatre open and providing the same high caliber professional entertainment that we have always offered. We know it won't be easy, but the professionals associated with the theatre realize the important role Wayside Theatre plays in the local economy and the cultural life of our area.

We also realize that many in our region may find it difficult to plan a night at the theatre as they see tough times ahead in their personal lives. To that end we will offer a limited number of special "pay what you can" discounts on Thursday and Friday night performances. Customers can reserve these tickets only 48 hours prior to the show they wish to attend and they are subject to availability.

Southern Crossroads will begin performances on Saturday, January 31 with one special discounted performance only January 31 is $17 for matinees. Opening night is Saturday, January 31 at 7:30pm. Ticket prices are $23 to $28 with discounts for full-time students, seniors and groups of 20 or more (except for Saturday night performances.) Children (ages 5 - 17) are $10.00 for any performance. A limited "Pay what you Can" discount on Thursday and Friday night performances will be available during this run. Forty-eight hours prior to performance on Thursdays and Fridays evening, any unsold tickets will be available for the public to purchase at "pay-what-you-can" price at the window. Single tickets and group packages can be obtained by calling the box office at (540) 869-1776. Additional information can be obtained on the theatre's website at www.waysidetheatre.org. Wayside Theatre is located in Middletown, Virginia on Route 11, Main Street, just north of the intersection of I-66 and I-81.