Wayside Announces Change in Schedule As Buddy Holly Replaces Elvis

Wayside Theatre has announced a change in its 2009-2010 season schedule. Instead of presenting the musical Idols of the King, a musical about Elvis Presley and his followers, Wayside Theatre will present a return of Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story.

The change is being made out of financial and licensing issues.

According to Artistic Director, Warner Crocker, "When we were granted the permission to schedule Idols of the King by the licensing agent for that show Silas Entertainment Inc., we were very excited back in 2008 when we made this arrangement. In a move that we saw as a blessing at that time, the Silas Entertainment Inc. allowed us to delay paying the licensing fees until December 2009, due to our tenuous financial position. As we prepared to pay the necessary fees a few weeks ago, we unfortunately found out that the situation had changed. Silas Entertainment Inc. licenses the music for Idols of the King from the Elvis Presley estate. The relationship between those two entities had changed in the interim, and the Presley estate was not continuing that relationship. Although Silas Entertainment Inc. worked very hard to try and make this work for Wayside Theatre the final result was that the license could not be granted. Had Wayside Theatre's financial situation been different and not quite so day to day, we would have been able to pay the licensing fee in 2008 and been assured of going forward with the show. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

"To replace Idols of the King, we are going to bring back a much requested earlier success, "Buddy, The Buddy Holly Story." "Buddy" was a tremendous success for us in 2006 and will once again feature local sensation, Robbie Limon as Buddy Holly, with many of the original cast returning as well.

"I'm sure our audiences will be as disappointed as we are with this change, but we hope that they will come and enjoy Robbie's performance and the music of Buddy Holly, as well as understand the difficult financial pressures we operate under on a daily basis at Wayside Theatre, as we continue to provide the best quality professional entertainment our community deserves.

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story will begin performances on Saturday, January 30 and. Opening Night is Sunday, January 31st at 6:30pm. The remaining performance schedule lists performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:30pm. Ticket prices are $25 and $30 dollars with tickets for children 17 and younger set at $10.00. Discounts for students, seniors and groups are available with information available at the box office, (540) 869-1776.

Wayside Theatre is the oldest professional theatre in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and is celebrating its 48th season of presenting high quality, professional entertainment in 2009-2010 Season. 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.

 

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