Fundraisers & Gala Events
From time to time, near the beginning of Wayside’s summer season, a special fund-raising event would take place. These were first held at the Wayside Inn, featuring a banquet or a fancy buffet, perhaps with dancing. The purpose of these evenings, of course, was to raise money for the Theatre.
One event held in April of 1970 featured an auction of various antique items. No information can be located as to how the items were collected or how the funds were allocated to the Theatre.
A fund-raising benefit was held in 1981 and featured the Ronnie Kole Trio, with Ronnie Kole on piano; Edward Link, bass; and Dick Taylor, drums. There is a brief reference to a similar benefit that had taken place the year before (“Trio to play ….” WES. 12 Feb. 1981). For the following year’s fundraiser, Kole appeared as piano soloist. It was announced that for this event, “money raised … will go to the new William C. Gilmore play-writing contest. The winning script will be used as part of Wayside Theatre on Tour’s 1983-1984 season.” (“Jazz Concert ….” TWS. 2 Feb. 1982). To date, no information regarding this play writing contest or the script has surfaced.
Another event sponsored by the Theatre with the attempt to expand its offerings beyond just theatrical performances and “to make itself more appealing” was the ‘Weekends at the Wayside’ programs which offered “opportunities for other art forms, such as dance.” (Kinley. “Wayside Awaits …” DNR. 20 May 1981). One of these offerings was a lecture by James J. Kilpatrick with the cost of $15.00 per person and was a tax-deductible contribution to the Theatre. Additional information on these offerings has not surfaced.
Theatre files show that two memorable fundraising events took place in 1997 and 1998. The gala for 1997 observed the 200th anniversary of the founding of Wayside Inn coupled with the 37th anniversary of the founding of Wayside Theatre. The feature attraction was actor, James Earl Jones. who planned to mingle with the guests before presenting a series of readings including “monologues on Clarence Darrow … Paul Robeson … Ernest Hemingway … and John Barrymore … (Bogan, K. “Wayside Celebrates ….” TWS. 28 July 1997). For this black-tie event of cocktails, dinner, and dancing, some 400 people paid $125 each to attend. Jones acknowledged that he “was not well prepared for such an occasion and that a stage performance would be much smoother” (Sullivan, T. “Wayside Inn, theater hold ….” NVD. 28 July 1997), but he had become interested in performing mono-dramas after seeing Hal Holbrook perform “Mark Twain Tonight.” At this Middletown event, Jones “captivated the audience which gave him a standing ovation after he finished” (Sullivan, T. “Wayside Inn, theater ….” NVD. 28 July 1997). This gala event was sponsored by RB Associates, F&M Bank, Wayside of Virginia, Sprint Corporation, Primemark Corporation, Nerangis Enterprises, and Porter, Wright, Morris, & Arthur. (Davis. TWS. 17 May 1997). At a later date, when Owens spoke of the Jones gala, he mentioned that around $16,000 [had been] raised for the theatre and added, “it was a success and a lovely evening” (McCarty. “Carol Channing ….” TWS. 9 Sept. 1998).
A similar gala was held at the Wayside Inn on September 12, 1998 and was patterned after the successful one held the year before. The guest of honor for the 1998 event was actress Carol Channing. The festivities began at 6:00 with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails followed by a four-course dinner. Channing was scheduled to appear at 8:00 (some sources say it was 9:00) with a presentation of sketches from her stage and film career. She made her entrance by walking under the raised swords of cadets from the Randolph Macon Military Academy in Front Royal and performed on a small stage in a large tent erected behind the Wayside Inn that also featured a dance floor. The evening concluded with dancing to the band, Triangle. Price for a single ticket was $125.00 for this major fundraising event of the year. Commenting on the evening, Channing said, “I’m thrilled to be able to do this benefit for Wayside Theatre. Live theatre is so important to our country and has been my whole life. I think we’ll have a great time that night and help keep professional theatre growing in Virginia” (Wayside Theatre. Press release for Channing event. 28 July 1998).
Copies of the invitations for both the Jones and Channing galas can be found in the Theatre’s archives.
The files contain un-used tickets for a March 23, 1985 event when Wayside Theatre presented The Johnny Cash Show featuring Cash and June Carter accompanied by The Show Band. This two-show event was held in the John Handley High School auditorium at 6:00 and 8:30 p.m.
During the Crocker years, galas were held at the Wayside Inn and other locations, but none in which celebrities from the theatre world were featured. The closest thing to it was on September 23, 2000 when The Drifters were featured at a Celebrity Dinner Dance at the Wayside Inn. Crocker suggests that “We’re trying a whole different approach to this year’s gala. We’re having a gala that will appeal to the community at large.” He suggested that the following year the event would include “a bluegrass concert, Celtic music for St. Patrick’s Day, and a 1940s theme dance and concert.” He concludes, “We want to send a message to the community that Wayside is not just a place that does plays. We’re trying to be the Shenandoah Valley’s premier entertainment center” (McCarty. “Drifters Set for Wayside ….” TWS. 13 Sept. 2000).
Another gala event was scheduled as the Fall Gala scheduled for September 29, 2001 and held at the Shenandoah Valley Golf Club. Music was provided by the Juke Box Heroes that performed the music of Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles. Further information about this have not been located.