Appreciation

Over the years that this project has evolved, it has been my privilege to meet with many people who had connections to Wayside Theatre.  I am grateful for the time they took from their schedules to share their experiences, either by personal meetings or through correspondence by letters or email:  for the meeting in Charlottesville, VA in May of 2011 with actors Jeremy Caplin, Ken Lambert, and costumer, Gweneth West, when the project was just getting started; the lovely visit over lunch at the home Ilona Dulaski.  There was the memorable visit with Sue Lawless in New York City; the meeting with former stage manager, Bob Leonard in Blacksburg, VA; the visit with Ellen Nicholas who shared her memories and photographs; and, there were many others.

People I have met with include:  Doug Arthur, Byron Brill, Jane Caspar, Susan Chewning, Kevin Covert, Hal Herman, Marsha Holtzman, Maida Jones, Donna Johnson, Marjorie Lewis, Nick Nerangis, Suzette (Halt) Niess, Judy Paige-Grim, Dennis Lynch, Suzie McCormack-Pike, Randy Niles, Barbara Sambol, Paul Sambol, Lynn Sams, Thomasin Savaiano, Bart Shatto, Sylvia Ann Soares, Jeff Stern, Barbara Swink, Helen Zebarth, and especially Bryane Miller Lickson, author of The Lure and Lore of the Wayside Theatre.  

My thanks also goes to those with whom I exchanged emails or spoke with on the telephone:  George Black, Charlotte Collins, Larry Dahlke, Kay Edens, reviewer Charlotte Eller, Pat Embrey, Madeline MacNeil, actress Donna McKechnie, Larry Miller, Lee Newman regarding the scrapbooks saved by her parents, Mitzi Nobel, Christopher Owens, Stephanie Pendleton, Fred Pfisterer, Cephe Place, Heather Reid, Linda Ross, Doug Saffell, Barbara Scarlett, Kurt Seip, and Ian Sullivan.  Thanks to Sarah Boppe for locating many newspaper articles, to set designer Til Turner for various visits discussing many topics; to Eve and Gene Newman for housing the historic scrapbooks and returning them to the Theatre. Thanks to those who donated items for the Archives: Jane Foster, John Horan for the invaluable donation of numerous playbills, Donna Johnson, Marjorie Lewis, and Helen Zebarth, as well as to those whom I have accidentally omitted.  Also, thanks to Andrew Napier for teaching me the required computer skills to get this project started, and for Elizabeth Hornberger for her ability to mount the final project.

Thanks for the invaluable assistance by the Reference Staff of many libraries.  In particular, the help from the staff of the Stewart Bell, Jr., Archives, Handley Library, Winchester, VA and especially to Becky Ebert, archivist, for her personal guidance.  Other reference assistance includes:

Culpeper County Library, Culpeper, VA -- Julie Bushong, and others in Reference
Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA. -- Vicky Ginther, Reference
Jewish Historical Society, Washington, DC -- Wendy Thurman, Archivist
The Claire Kincannon Playbill Collection, Archives of George Mason University
Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Library, Martinsburg, WV -- Reference
Massanutten Regional Library, Harrisonburg, VA -- Susan Versen, Reference
Page Public Library, Luray, VA -- Reference
Samuels Public Library, Front Royal. VA -- Reference
Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, VA – Zachary Hottel, Reference
Shenandoah Valley Herald, Luray, VA. – Reference
State Library of Virginia, Richmond, VA -- Reference
Thomas Balch Library, Leesburg, VA -- Mr. Shannon Fuller, and others in Reference
Warren Heritage Society, Front Royal, VA – Jim Heflin, Reference
Warrenton Public Library, Warrenton, VA -- Reference
Washington County Free Library, Hagerstown, MD -- Reference

I am thankful for being able to obtain some items from the Theatre’s files before the building was permanently closed.  My regret is that I was not able to return to the site and collect remaining items, especially the photographs. 

Special thanks to John Westervelt for permission to use the copyrighted photos bearing the stamp, Photography by Westervelt, as per his email dated 10 January 2019.

And especially, to Madlon for her abundant help and especially, her patience.  My deepest appreciation.