Actor Housing

Over the years, Wayside’s actors and interns were housed in various locations.  In the beginning, they were housed at the Wayside Inn and their meals were served in the historic Slave Kitchen located in the Inn’s dining area.  Actress, Jane Lowry. tells that, in the 1963 season, she and Andrea Miller “share[d] a room at the near-by historic Wayside Inn” but that “some of the actors and staff live in quarters above the theatre” (McLendon. TWP. 1 Aug. 1963).  Prior to being transformed into a theatre, the top floor of the building had been used for apartments with the space at the front serving as the theatre office and the space at the back of the building was used for rehearsals.  Later, this space served as the costume shop.  It is not sure when the building behind the theatre, usually referred to as the Love Shack, was used for housing – most likely in the late ‘60s.

According to property records, the house at the corner of Church and Third Street in Middletown was purchased on August 2, 1962 by Leo Bernstein (Frederick County Court House). This purchase took place before the successful 1963 season, making it appear that plans were underway for providing summer housing for actors.  Years later, this building became the home of Hal Herman and Lindé Hayen, who had worked at the Theatre in the ‘60s and had been housed in this space during their time at Wayside.

Additional information on housing arrangements comes from a 1972 newspaper article stating that actors and staff live in two large houses that the theatre manages, while others use rooms in private homes that have been generously provided by their owners.  It also mentions that not all of the actors or staff came to Middletown alone, as “many have their wives and their children” with them and were housed at the Wayside Inn. (Davis.  “Personally ….” WES. 16 May, 1972). Broadway star, Donna McKechnie, tells of living at the Inn when she appeared in Irma La Douce in 1973 (McKechnie. Email. 2017).

In the spring of 1974, the Board postponed the renovation project of the theatre’s interior that would have included new seats and provided more leg-room, and came to grips with the issue of actor housing. There is “An on-going problem Wayside theatre has only barely been able to cope with from year to year [which] has been the housing of our actors and staff.  A yearly influx of people requiring temporary housing in Middletown was an issue that [was] dealt with less satisfactorily each Summer Season” (“What’s the catch?” Playbill, 1974, p. 9).  The Board postponed the plan for the interior renovation, reallocated funds, and purchased a former motel for the purpose of providing actor housing.  “The Old Dominion Motel just south [sic – the motel is north of Middletown] on Route 11 will become a home for summer stock members of the Wayside Theatre.” Bernstein stated that, “he had purchased this 14 room motel to house actors and actress who will be working with the theatre this summer.”  He boasted of the quality of this facility, stating it as being “one of the finest of its kind in the country for summer stock.  It is completely air conditioned and equipped with TV.  There will be a rehearsal hall and sport facilities for the use of the visiting actors” (“Former Motel Purchased ….”  WES.  26 Jan. 1974).  Members of Le Beau Geste organization worked very hard in redecorating and furnishing the motel in order to have it ready when actors and staff arrived.

There is a further reference to a “new but welcome headache … the purchase of the Old Dominion Apartments” in the spring of 1974.  It states that actor and staff housing

… has been a source of one of the greatest frustrations of the Theatre.  Through
the gracious efforts of the Board of Directors, the Old Dominion Apartments were purchased at the low price of $52,000 from Leo M. Bernstein.  When purchased,
the Old Dominion Apartments, many of which were in need of some painting and
minor repairs and additional furniture consisted of five two-room apartments, one
one-room efficiency, one room with a hot plate, refrigerator and bath, and one two-bedroom apartment.  Beneath the two-bedroom apartment was a two-car garage
that was converted into two new efficiency apartments.  Renovation was made
possible by gift/donation and a mortgage.

The article concludes,

The Old Dominion Apartments have been worked on steadily since their
acquisition.  One apartment has been given to a resident manager and slowly,
but surely, the residence is being improved.  Improved furniture and interior design
are still a need.  The greatest difficulty for the tenants is the fact that there is no insulation and heating bills run extremely high (“Former Motel ….” 26 June 1974).

Additional information on staff housing is found in a 1976 Playbill that states,

Things are definitely looking up!  The Staff House, where Wayside’s apprentices
and junior staff members live, has been a source of anxiety to us since the Foun-
dation purchased it just before last season (1975) began.  With no funds available
for a much-needed additional shower, redecoration of the fourteen-room house
were, of course, inconceivable.  But, we’ve done it!

Our apprentices and junior staff make Wayside Theatre function.  They build
the sets, construct the costumes, run the box office, and act as house manager
and ushers and janitors as well.  And this year, for the first time ever, we feel that
the pleasant surroundings in their living quarters will show, at least in a small way,
our appreciation for their hard work and dedication for little or no pay.

The new shower, fresh paint on walls and furniture and newly contributed bed-
spreads curtains, mirrors and rugs have affected a real face-lift.  In fact, the house
has improved so much the mother of one junior staff member who apprenticed
at Wayside last year was certain that she had delivered her son to the wrong house! 
(“The Staff House.” Wayside Playbill. 1976).

The article concludes, “this ‘Cinderella change’ was made possible by the generosity of many individuals and businesses, such as the store, Sears, for which the Theatre is very grateful (“Actor Housing.”  TWS.  8 Dec. 1974).  Also listed were members of Beau Geste, along with individuals and organizations, that had contributed to improving the facilities used by the actors as their summer ‘home away from home’ (“The Staff House.” Wayside Playbill. 1976).

One person, who had been on staff in the early ‘80s, recalls living in the house located directly across Second Street from the theatre.  She remembers that the walls were extremely thin and one could hear all sorts of things taking place in the neighboring room (West. Interview. 10 May 2011).

As has been mentioned, it was quite common for actors to be housed in private homes.  Pam and Richard DeBergh, along with John and Laurie Morrison, both of Winchester, opened their homes to provide comfortable lodging for actors on several occasions.  There are many others who did this as well, but these names are not on record. 

During the Crocker years, actors were housed in private homes in Winchester and other nearby locations. For two summers, actors were housed in a building on Cork Street, and, during another summer, actors lived in a house on Washington Street, both in Winchester.  At some point, a building across the street from the theatre was purchased for staff and actor housing.  Not too long after this acquisition, a larger house on the same side of the street and north of the theatre was obtained and used until the theatre closed in 2013.

It is not clear how these properties were dealt with when the theatre closed.