Warner Crocker
Artistic DirectorWarner is now in his 13th season as Wayside Theatre’s Artistic Director. He has produced, directed and designed more productions in the USA and Russia during his 30-year career than he can count. He has directed most of Wayside Theatre’s productions the last twelve seasons. Of his many favorites, he includes the collaboration with Steve Przybylski on the original musical, Southern Crossroads, which became an instant hit in 2009, and its prequel, The New Orleans Adventure. With Mr. Przybylski, he has also authored original musical adaptations of A Miracle on 34th Street, and A Christmas Carol. He is also the author of an adaptation of Dracula, and the world premiere production of Robert E. Lee and John Brown: Lighting the Fuse and two adaptations of The Three Musketeers: a musical version in Russian that is still playing in the repertories of the Musical Theatres of Omsk and Yekaterinburg, and a dramatic version that had its world premiere at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival. His early career was spent in Chicago, where he was the recipient of five Joseph Jefferson awards -- three for directing and one each for scenery and lighting design and two After Dark awards. His productions of The Ballad of the Sad Café and The Kentucky Cycle were honored with Best Production Citations. He has been a guest instructor at Columbia College, Roosevelt University, the University of Illinois at Chicago and his alma mater, James Madison University. He is a former board member for Virginians for the Arts and currently sits as an Advisory Board Member of the Cincinnati Shakespeare Festival and the National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts.
Production Staff
Wes Calkin
Resident Lighting DesignerWes is excited to continue working with Wayside Theatre for his second season. Wes has previously provided the lighting for Groucho: A Life In Revue,Southern Crossroads: The New Orleans Adventure, A Christmas Carol, Striking 12, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, and Mark Twain’s A Murder, a Mystery, and a Marriage at Wayside. He also loves working with the education department on their many productions in various challenging and rewarding locations. Not to be left with idle time, he has also designed projections for several Wayside shows and is the designer of this website. He comes most recently from Memphis, where he was responsible for lighting at Circuit Playhouse.
Tamara M. Carruthers
Resident Costume DesignerTamara is back for her 10th season at Wayside Theatre. She admires and appreciates those who have worked so hard to see this wonderful organization reach its 50th Season. She hopes it continues to be a vital part of the Shenandoah Valley for many more seasons to come. Her work from the past nine seasons have included classics such as Wuthering Heights, The Importance of Being Earnest, Blithe Spirit, and Othello, musicals and musical reviews such as My Way, Honk, Always Patsy Cline and Spitfire Grill, and the world premiers of Shadow of the Raven: Tales of Edgar Allan Poe, Robert E. Lee and John Brown: Lighting the Fuse, Southern Crossroads and Southern Crossroads: The New Orleans Adventure. “All my love and thanks to my parents, brother and sister-in-law, and many others who hold special places in my heart.”
Zachary Fullenkamp
Technical DirectorZachary is excited to join Wayside Theatre for its 50th season. Born and raised in St. Louis, MO, he has recently arrived here from Washington University in St. Louis. He has previously worked with several companies around the St. Louis area, including Opera Theatre St. Louis, HotCity Theatre, Upstream Theatre, Edison Theatre, New Jewish Theatre, and the Black Rep. He would like to thank his family and all of his teachers who helped him get to the place he is now, and Warner for giving him this wonderful opportunity.
Steve Przybylski
Resident Sound Designer & Music DirectorSteve is thrilled to be in his 11th season as a member of the Wayside company. Most recognizable from his appearances as Dennis in the Sanders Family trilogy, additional Wayside credits include It’s A Wonderful Life, Hank Williams: Lost Highway, The Spitfire Grill, Dracula, and My Way. He is also the author and composer of Shadow of the Raven: The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe, which received its world premiere at Wayside in 2007, and has worked Off-Off Broadway in Once On This Island (Gallery Players).Other regional/stock theatre includes: The Theater at Monmouth, Rocky Mountain Repertory, Barter Theatre.
Heather Reid
Production ManagerHeather obtained her BFA in Dance from Shenandoah University. She has since spent her time as a costume shop manager, costume designer, choreographer, actor, dancer, French horn player, master electrician, sound board operator, stage manager, assistant stage manager, carpenter, scenic charge, assistant technical director, set designer, and technical director, and is now proud to call herself the Production Manager. She is very excited to be a part of the design and production team for Wayside’s 50th season. Way to go Wayside!!
John Westervelt
Resident Photographer
His first stage appearance was in the third grade, playing the Duck in The Calico Cat – I had eight words to say.
I photographed my first Wayside Theatre show in 1976 and have been around since then. I’ve been a photographer since 1969,
and earned an Associate Fellow of Photography (AFP) and was Certified by the Professional Photographers of America in 1986.
It has been a joy for me to work with so many talented actors, technicians and directors, and it’s a place to go
where I don’t need to ‘act my age’!
Administrative Staff
Rebecca Calkin
Assistant to the Artistic DirectorRebecca is an NC native and ‘09 graduate of Wake Forest University with a BA in Theatre. Rebecca has worked professionally in stage management at The Lost Colony, The University of Findlay, and Playhouse on the Square. As a playwright, she has won or placed in multiple contests conducted by the Virtual Theatre Project; and as a director, she has received two NCTC directing awards. Rebecca has also served as Artistic Director for two years at Fayetteville Impact Productions, a group which she co-founded. Favorite directing credits include The Lover, Bash, Barefoot in the Park, Gunplay, Machinal (AD), and King Lear (AD). Rebecca is excited to be working at Wayside Theatre for her first season and hopes you truly enjoy the shows!
Cephe Place
Sales & Outreach CoordinatorCephe begins her 12th season here at Wayside Theatre managing the Box Office and Outreach throughout our theatre’s regional area. Cephe directed the Wayside Theatre Touring production of 84 Charing Cross Road, performed in Wayside Reader Theatre’s production of The Women, and authored several children’s plays, including Tom Sawyer and Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever. Cephe was Producer and Director of the Handley Library Children’s Theatre for 25 years, for seven years Resident Director of Front Royal Little Theatre, and Director for 4 years for the Blue Ridge Players. Locally, she performed at Winchester Little Theatre. Cephe received her BS in Theatre and Education from James Madison University and MBA from Shenandoah University. She is a Virginia Licensed teacher in four subject areas, and a VHSL judge. Cephe is an avid reader, genealogist, and loves learning how to play the guitar.
Thomasin Savaiano
YPW Coordinator/Administrative AssistantThomasin, a Chicago native, is happy to continue her work here at Wayside. Notable roles include: Jean in Dead Man's Cell Phone, Anne in Shenandoah, Veta Louise Simmons in Harvey, and Irene Adler in Sherlock Holmes. In addition to acting on the Wayside stage, Thomasin is also the founder and coordinator of the Young Performers' Workshop program and organizes the Young Playwrights' Festival every year. She has appeared at Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Totem Pole Playhouse, Richmond Ensemble Theatre, Theatre Virginia, and Theatre at Lime Kiln. She is a member of Actors' Equity Association.
Education Staff
Megan McShea
Education DirectorMegan first stepped through Wayside’s doors as a YPW student in 2000 and is ecstatic to be working here now as Education Director. Upon graduating from Bucknell University with a BA in Theatre and Linguistics, she spent a year as an AmeriCorps VISTA developing theatre AfterSchool programs for grades K-8 and then a year as Wayside’s Education Assistant. Favorite credits include: A Christmas Carol (Lucy/Charwoman), Urinetown the Musical (assistant sound technician), True West (Sound Design), The Vagina Monologues (Director), Macbeth (Stage Manager), This Is A Test (Director), her Summer ’11 YPW classes and her first play The Name of the Tree (Elephant).
