Ilona Dulaski
Dear Patrons and Friends of Wayside Theatre in Middletown, VA.
I was/am very distressed when Warner Crocker, former Artistic Director of Wayside Theatre in Middletown, VA, and very, very dear friend, informed me that he was resigning from his duties as Artistic Director for the last 14 years, a week ago Friday.
I am a Professional Actress/Singer/Spokeswoman. My first job, when I was in Graduate School at Catholic University in Washington, DC, was as a professional Actress in the Resident Company at Wayside Theatre for the entire summer, under the helm of Owen Phillips. I worked there for two summers. From that time to now, there have been a few Artistic Directors who have taken control of the theatre for several seasons, most of them were my friends.
I am still working in the Business. I was very honored to come back to Wayside in STEEL MAGNOLIAS and ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW I LEARNED IN KINDERGARTEN, shortly after Warner (Artistic Director) and his amazingly talented wife, Thomasin Savaiano, (Actress, Teacher, and friend) moved to Middletown, VA, from Chicago to help bring new energy into the theatre and Community. I have worked with these two talented people off and on during those 14 amazing years they have been helping the theatre grow.
Warner Crocker
When the Board decided to let Warner and Thomasin resign, I wondered if their friends and Patrons of Wayside Theatre know what I know. I thought I would share this with you. Warner worked without a salary for a good part of 2011 and 2012 when the theatre was running out of money. Thomasin was doing two jobs at times, but only getting paid for one, just so the theatre could stay open and the cast and crew could be paid. I know for a fact that Warner has paid money out of his pocket for Scene Shop materials so that the theatre would have a set for the next show in the season. His staff was honored to work with him. I know this from personal experience there.
When I was in STEEL MAGNOLIAS and THE NERD two seasons ago, I saw Warner and Thomasin try to keep the theatre going during the most dire circumstances I have ever seen.
I am afraid that Middletown, VA, is going to be seeing the demise of a wonderful and historical theatre that has survived for 52 years. The Board owes Warner a lot of money. I just hope that he can at least be paid back for everything he did for the theatre to allow it to survive. Wayside Theatre is losing two amazing people/artists. Unfortunately, I do not believe this Board, at this time, will be able to make the theatre survive. Perhaps, it could have been prevented if they had all worked together.
Response by Anonymous to commentary: (posted 7/23/13)
Ms. Dulaski writes the following:”When the Board decided to let Warner and Thomasin resign, I wondered if their friends and Patrons of Wayside Theatre know what I know.”
The obvious answer to her question seems to be, “No, the Patrons of Wayside Theatre will know exactly what Ms. Dulaski tells them, and little more, when there might well be more to tell.” Maybe the board knows more than Ms. Dulaski knows – could this actually be possible?
Ms. Dulaski goes on,
“I thought I would share this with you. Warner worked without a salary for a good part of 2011 and 2012 when the theatre was running out of money. Thomasin was doing two jobs at times, but only getting paid for one, just so the theatre could stay open and the cast and crew could be paid. I know for a fact that Warner has paid money out of his pocket for Scene Shop materials so that the theatre would have a set for the next show in the season. His staff was honored to work with him. I know this from personal experience there.”
Did Warner act logically here, putting out his own money so freely, without undertaking the most basic task of working out legal understandings with the board? Did Thomasin ever ask for a renegotiation of her contract, or did she freely choose to do more than she contractually agreed to do? Generous offerings without legal agreements to the contrary are precisely this – generous offerings. They are not, nor should they ever be interpreted as being forced contracts at some future date. A teller at the bank puts $1000 in my mailbox one day without me ever knowing she did it. I use the money. I change banks. She demands repayment of a loan that I never agreed to in the first place. Charity is not a loan, with binding future obligations of repayment.
Finally, Ms Dulaski writes,
“I am afraid that Middletown, VA, is going to be seeing the demise of a wonderful and historical theatre that has survived for 52 years. The Board owes Warner a lot of money. I just hope that he can at least be paid back for everything he did for the theatre to allow it to survive. Wayside Theatre is losing two amazing people/artists. Unfortunately, I do not believe this Board, at this time, will be able to make the theatre survive. Perhaps, it could have been prevented if they had all worked together.”
There is always a likelihood of re-birth during the course of a demise. This is how the universe works – creation arises from destruction, and a new creation is often better than ever the second time around. This is called evolution. The theatre, of course, is grateful to the two individuals mentioned in the article, but it, like the greater drama of life it mimics, realizes that the show must go on, perhaps with new and better actors.
