Preface

It is most appropriate to ask how a Winchester resident became interested in Middletown’s Wayside Theatre. In particular, how did he became involved with collecting information and attempting to write an historical overview of the Theatre? There is no simple answer -- only a response requiring some explanation.

My connection with Wayside Theatre began in 1996 when, on a whim, I auditioned and was cast in the annual December show, A Christmas Carol, written and directed by then Artistic Director, Christopher Owens. My time on stage was brief, but enjoyable. I subsequently appeared in two other productions during Mr. Owens’ tenure. I never dreamed that those moments on Wayside’s stage would be the beginning of a relationship with the theatre that would span several years.

After Christopher Owens resigned and Warner Crocker assumed the position of Artistic Director, I presented myself to him, indicating I would be interested in being considered for a part should there be a role for an “older-type.” Much to my dismay, I was cast in the opening producton of the 1999 season, Measure for Measure. From 1999 to 2010, it was my privilege to appear on Wayside’s stage in one or more productions each season.

Even though I have been a resident of Winchester since 1973, I am embarassed to confess that I knew practically nothing about Wayside. I had attended a few performances prior to my 1996 audition but knew nothing of the theatre’s rich history. I picked up some historical bits and pieces each time I was cast in a production. I learned even more when I read Bryanne Miller Lickson’s booklet, The Lure and Lore of the Wayside Theatre (2001), written to observe Wayside’s 40th season.

Over time, I heard about the theatre’s early years, and of the New York actors who spent their summers in Middletown trodding the same stage where I was working. But, how did these talented people mount eight plays over a ten-week period? Was there an accurate list of the theatre’s productions? Were there any old photos of these early shows? What memorabilia might be lying about?

When attending a performance at Totem Pole Playhouse in Pennsylvania, I saw the document observing the theatre’s sixtieth anniversary that included a production chronology for those years. When Wayside neared its fiftieth season, I innocently inquired if a similar document was being planned. The response to my question was loud and clear: “Go for it!”

So, I opted to “Go for it.” Immediately, I was confronted with many questions: Where does one start? Where is this information located? How should it be organized? Thus began the task of delving more deeply into the Theatre’s “lure and lore” than I ever imagined possible.

I first visited the Stuart Bell, Jr. Archives located in Winchester’s Handley Library to see what might be available. What a surprise, as well as a disappointment, to discover that their entire Wayside Theatre holdings consisted of three file-folders containing only scant bits of information: a newspaper clipping, a playbill, an invitation to an opening, a couple of photos. Useful, but certainly nothing definitive.

The next step in this quest was to see what might be at the Theatre. What I found was more abundant, but certainly not complete. Two four-drawer filing cabinets contained folders arranged alphabetically by the title of the production. Each folder contained newspaper reviews, along with articles about a visiting actor, the announcing of a fund drive, and the like. Again - - nothing definitive.

Some folders in the file cabinets contained playbills of productions dating from the late 1980s and early 1990s, but no single year was completely represented. To my horror, someone mentioned that it was possible the bulk of information prior to the 1980s had disappeared - - some say that this material was destroyed in a house-cleaning effort, as it was felt that this “old stuff” was not needed. Could this have actually happened? After discovering this void in the Theatre’s early years, it became quite evident that compiling a definitive production chronology, along with any informaton on the theatre’s early days, was going to be a larger chore than anticipated!

I next stumbled across the real jewel in the Theatre’s archival materials: fifteen scrapbooks covering the years 1964-1979 that contained newspaper clippings, some photos, and a few playbills. Barbara Swink, who had served Wayside’s Managing Director from 1972 – 1979, confessed that she had put many of the scrapbooks together - - clipping articles from the area papers and pasting them onto the pages, since it was she who had submitted this information to the press in the first place . It should be remembered that, at this time, there were several newspapers published in the Valley, and the same article would appear in each paper.

One scrapbook bears the handwritten inscription, “To Leo and Beverly [Bernstein], A small token of appreciation for all you’ve done through the years to make Wayside Theatre a reality,” and signed by Gerald Slavet. There is no date for this incription, but a newspaper clipping attached to the same page is dated April 17, 1970. Interestingly enough, the contents of the autographed scrapbook are repeated almost exactly, page by page, in a second volume for the same year.

Rumor has it that these scrapbooks left the Theatre for a time and fell into the hands of Middletown residents, Gene and Eve Newman, both of whom had served on the Theatre’s Board of Directors. One might assume they were rescued during the trashing of archival materials mentioned earlier. Who knows? But, somehow these scrapbooks came into the possession of Mr. and Mrs. Newman, who kept them safely at their home before returning them to the Theatre in 1999. There they remained, locked away in a cabinet on the theatre’s second floor, primarily un-noticed, until 2011. Unfortunately, the scrapbooks have deteriorated and are poor condition; the glue holding the clippings to the page has dried up, and the non-acid free paper has become brittle and crumbly. This is not surprising, as it is rare that a theatre would have a staff person with archival or preservation skills. Despite their condition, these scrapbooks remain valuable treasures.

On the positive side, a small box containing three rolls of microfilm was found next to the scrapbooks in that small cabinet. Someone had the foresight to photograph the scrapbooks when they were in their original condition. The scrapbooks, along with the microfilm, are now located in the Stuart Bell Archives of the Handley Regional Library in Winchester. The microfilm has been scanned, allowing one to access the scrapbooks from the library’s website.

As additional materials dealing with the Theatre have been collected, these have also been added to the Handley Archives. One of the most important additions to the collection was a large number of theatre playbills donated by John Horan, Jr., who wrote reviews of Wayside productions for the Northern Virginia Daily. While this donation has enhanced the holdings and filled in many gaps, a complete collecton of playbills still does not exist.

Additional information on both the Wayside Theatre and the Wayside Inn was found in the archives of the Jewish Historical Society in Washington, DC, where the papers of Leo Bernstein are housed. Many people have generously donated items that have enhanced and broadened the scope of this endeavor. It should be stressed, that all materials obtained to date, or that might be collected in the future, have become part of the Wayside Theatre Collection housed in the Archives of the Handley Library in Winchester.

The research journey that began in 2011 still continues. I have talked with many actors who appeared on the Wayside stage, including a telephone conversation with an actor who appeared in the 1963 season! I have spoken with directors, with people who worked behind the stage, with former theatre staff, with board members, and with people who have been loyal supporters of Wayside. I have talked with people on the phone, met with them over coffee, and communicated via email. Some have shared their personal scrapbooks and photo albums. Others have solved mysteries by identifying people in unlabeled photographs. I have heard countless stories of treasured moments that took place on Wayside’s stage. The list of people who have assisted with this project is long, and I hope that no name has been overlooked. Needless to say, I express my sincere thanks to all who have contributed to this project.

Even though the project has been under way since 2011, it remains a “work in progress.” It has been put aside many times when the schedule required that I focus on other things. There are still mysteries to be solved, and a great deal of work remains to be done. It is my hope that the portion of this document, now in a format to be shared, will be of interest to those who read it. In the not-too-distant future, perhaps the complete, definitive history of Wayside Theatre will be available for all to enjoy.

JHL Winchester, Virginia

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