Expansion Project

Expanding the Theatre had been hinted at for some time.  Ever since Wayside began, there has been mention of the small stage and the limited backstage area.  There had been talk about creating a second performance as well.  Plans for expansion were drawn up and the decision was made by the Board to go ahead with the project that would provide 7,000 square feet of additional space.  The extension would include a ‘black-box’ type of theatre with flexible seating along with additional dressing rooms.  It was projected that more experimental, short-run types of productions would take place in the smaller theatre, along with productions of a more educational nature.  The regular theatre space would feature works that were more traditional with a longer performance schedule.

Plans for this expansion were first presented to the public at a meeting with the Middletown Planning Commission in 2004.  Crocker indicated that having two performance venues would permit the Theatre to “expand its children’s programs, stage more commercial productions, and offer more experimental plays.”  The Town Council’s concern for this expansion centered around parking, which is currently at a premium.  The Council suggested “expanding the parking lot at the nearby town park, creating better lighting from that point to the theater, and perhaps running a short shuttle to drive people back and forth” (Mangino.  “Panel Gets First ….”  TWS.  26 Oct. 2004).  It isn’t known if there were further discussion between the Council and the Theatre.

The festive ground-breaking ceremony took place behind the Theatre on November 26, 2006.  The ‘Love Shack’ and the cinder block scene shop were demolished providing an unobstructed area for the extension of the Theatre.  It was announced by the Board chairman, Dr. Byron Brill, that $700,000 of the $1.5 million had been raised for the proposed expansion project.  A sketch of the proposed expansion was available for all to see. The local press covered the ceremony that was attended by some 80 supporters of Wayside.  In attendance for this event were Gene T. Dicks, the mayor of Middletown, William Aikens, vice-president of H & W Construction that was to handle the expansion and site work, and Stephen Brown, president of the Wayside Foundation for the Arts (Dorolek.  “Wayside Theatre breaks ….”  TWS.  27 Nov. 2006).

There was great hope for this expansion program, as it would provide the much-needed space for the Theatre to expand its educational programs as well as provide two performance spaces for a variety of types of productions. 

The actual expansion was expected to begin in the spring of 2007.  However, there was a downturn in the nation’s economy and fundraising efforts proved difficult.  In addition, the Theatre’s debt also raised a dark cloud over the Theatre’s financial picture.  Consequently, the much dreamed of project never materialized. 

One can’t help but wonder, if the expansion had actually taken place, perhaps things would have been different and Wayside’s future would not have resulted in the 2013 closing.