Wayside Theatre Clarifies Their History W/ The Wayside Inn

According to Artistic Director Warner Crocker, "In light of the recent news that the Wayside Inn may be put up for auction we have seen some confusion among some of Wayside Theatre's customers. To be clear, the Wayside Inn and the Wayside Theatre are two separate business entities. While the future of the Wayside Inn is now being decided by the Bernstein family, the Wayside Theatre is not a part of that process and is not up for sale and will remain unaffected by whatever decisions are made regarding the Wayside Inn. Wayside Theatre is completing its 47th season of producing professional theatre, continuing the run of the critically acclaimed audience favorite, Southern Crossroads through March 14 and preparing for its next production Cotton Patch Gospel to open on March 21, while working towards the opening of its 48th season in June of 2009.

This confusion we are hearing from our customers is due in part to the shared history between the two separate entities as well as the shared name. (See below for a timeline of this history.) The two entities have been completely separate since 1965 when Mr. Leo Bernstein realized that producing professional theatre was, in his words, "more of a risk than any sane business man would ever want to be involved in." In 1965 Mr. Bernstein turned over control of the Wayside Theatre to a not-for-profit board of directors, who formed the Wayside Foundation for the Arts to operate the theatre. Since that time the Wayside Theatre has been operating as a 501-c-3 corporation.

The Wayside Theatre continued to lease the theatre building at 7853 Main Street from Mr. Bernstein until 2004. In 2004 Mr. Bernstein gifted the deed for the building and property to the Wayside Foundation for the Arts, which operates the Wayside Theatre. This generous gift allowed the Wayside Foundation for the Arts to move forward with a much needed renovation of the Wayside Theatre building.

Wayside Theatre remains grateful for the vision of Mr. Bernstein in founding the theatre, and to his and the Bernstein family's generosity as donors and supporters of the theatre throughout its 47 season history. That said, due to the larger than life presence of Mr. Bernstein and his generosity, there were many throughout the years who believed he was Wayside Theatre's main and/or sole benefactor. While Mr. Bernstein and his family were generous with their donations throughout the years, Wayside Theatre has always required and sought the support and the donations and contributions of many individuals and corporations throughout its existence in order to fulfill its mission. Wayside Theatre will continue to seek the support of those interested in seeing live professional theatre in our region and that endeavor is even more important in this challenging economic climate when we see many not-for-profit theatres forced to shut their doors.

Timeline
1961: Leo Bernstein and Herb White found the Wayside Theatre
1965: Leo Bernstein turned the Wayside Theatre over to the Wayside Foundation for the Arts, a 501-c-3 not-for-profit corporation. It has been run by the Wayside Foundation for the Arts ever since as a separate entity. Wayside Theatre begins leasing the theatre building at 7853 Main Street in Middletown from Mr. Bernstein

2004: Leo Bernstein gifted the Wayside Theatre building to the Wayside Foundation for the Arts/Wayside Theatre
in 2004.

2009: Wayside Theatre continues to be operated by the Wayside for the Foundation for the Arts. Jim Wink of Bluemont heads the 16-member Board of Directors which includes representatives from Front Royal, Winchester, Strasburg, Frederick, Clarke, Warren and Shenandoah Counties. This board has approved a new and complete season starting in June. Plans are already being made to mark the theater's milestone 50th anniversary in 2011.

Wayside Theatre is the second oldest professional theatre in the Shenandoah Valley and is celebrating its 47th season of presenting high quality, professional entertainment. 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.