In Honor of Our Founder
As a part of the ongoing celebration honoring the theatre’s 40th Anniversary, the Wayside Theatre has created a new award to recognize those individuals who have contributed so selflessly to benefit the theatre.
From The Lure and Lore of Wayside Theatre by Bryane Miller Lickson...
Wayside was founded by the vision and generosity of Washington, D.C. financier and real estate developer, Mr. Leo M. Berstein, who by chance happened upon the small town.
Appropriately, Mr. Bernstein received the first award at the Gala Opening of the 40th Anniversary Season during a pre-show ceremony held at the Wayside Inn.
About past ceremonies...
2011 Leo Awards
From left to right: Malcom Barr, Warner Crocker (Artistic Director of Wayside Theatre), Craig Laird, and Dewayne Coats.
Craig D. Laird
Craig D. Laird, is the owner of Royal Oak Computers. Personally and through his business, Craig is an active supporter of many organizations including Wayside Theatre and he is a very active community advocate in the Front Royal community. Through Craig, Royal Oak Computers has been an active show sponsor for a number of seasons. Craig’s expertise and knowledge of computers and computer networking have been invaluable resources to Wayside Theatre throughout the last five years.
When something goes wrong the call to “call Craig” goes out, and things are quickly put right again. Simply put, without him, we couldn’t operate with today’s technology. Craig also serves as a member of the Wayside Fellows and is an invaluable resource for marketing and operations advice. Craig is married Robin Laird.
Malcom Barr
Malcolm Barr has been a major supporter of the Arts in the Front Royal and Warren County community. Malcolm Barr served on the Board of Directors for Wayside Foundation for the Arts from 2003-2009. Since his term as Board member ended, Malcolm has served as the President of the Board of Directors for the Humane Society of Warren County. As a board member of the Wayside Foundation for the Arts, Malcolm was very active on a number of projects including assisting Wayside Theatre with its temporary relocation to the Royal Phoenix Theatre during the 2007-08 Season, while the renovations were being made to our home in Middletown.
Malcolm worked as a journalist for most of his career and currently is a freelance writer for various local newspapers. He has been active with Rotary in Front Royal and also the Rockland Rockers, working with to bring the members of both groups to attend Wayside Theatre. His commitment to arts in education has also been evidenced by the number of students he has personally gotten involved in Wayside Theatre’s educational programs. His tireless promotion of Wayside Theatre has been and continues to be an ongoing asset to Wayside Theatre. Malcolm is married to Carol Barr and has one son, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman, Malcolm, Jr.
Dewayne W. Coats
Dewayne W. Coats has been a volunteer for Wayside Theatre for over 17 years. Opening night crowds will recognize him as one of our Opening Night ushers that help you find your seats, and Wayside Theatre audiences have been ushered to their seats by Dewayne for many of those 17 years. But, Dewayne is also a key volunteer and consultant for our production team. He provides advice, purchasing and installation assistance, and consultation on the multi-media equipment including our sound and projection equipment.
During the temporary relocation to the Royal Phoenix in Front Royal, Dewayne set up our control booth and equipment and also did the same when Wayside Theatre returned home to Middletown. His expertise has been vital to such past productions as Reunion, Groucho, Robert E. Lee and John Brown, Always Patsy Cline, and Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure among many others. DeWayne is also an active volunteer for his church and many other organizations as well.
Wayside Theatre as a professional theatre has always relied on volunteers to assist its professional staff on any number of fronts. Some of those volunteers become as integral to our operation as any of the staff. Dewayne Coats personifies that volunteer spirit, without which Wayside Theatre could not operate.
