By Kristen Unger

Travel to the area of Northwest Virginia and you will eventually come across the community of Middletown. The town is one of the older settlements in Virginia, was host to many battles in the Civil War—most famously the Battle of Cedar Creek—and is home to the Wayside Inn, the oldest continuously running inn in the state.

Middletown is surrounded by panoramic mountain views and beautiful orchards, a feature that gives the area a magical quality; however, the true treasure of the community can be found merely by taking a drive into the heart of the town.

Venture down Main Street of Middletown and you’ll come across the major source of attraction to the area: the Wayside Theatre. The theatre is the second oldest professional theatre in Virginia and offers many benefits to the community and attractions to those from other areas.

Indeed, not only does the theatre provide high quality performances of timeless classics, new variations of classic productions, and plenty of new works but also high quality youth programs and tours of children’s plays. The theatre is a destination unto itself and surely deserves to be included in your getaway itinerary through the vicinity of Middletown.

The theatre is host to a rich historical background and served as a beauty salon, ice cream parlor, jail and movie house before acting as a home for the Maralarrick Players, the first group to stage live performances in the building. The site then became home to the Wayside Theatre that is known and loved by many in the Washington, D.C., area.

Although the two-hour excursion to the theatre could easily be accomplished in one day, there are also many accommodations available for those who wish to make a weekend or holiday trip, some of which offer lodging and theatre ticket packages for the theatre enthusiasts among their guests. For example, both the Wayside Inn & Restaurant and Hotel Strasburg offer lodging/dinner/ticket packages — a very convenient arrangement for travelers, as the hotels are both within 10 minutes of the theatre and offer high quality meals and service; however, to purchase the package contact your hotel of choice. Visit www.wayside.org and www.hotelstrasburg.com for details.

Those who decide to make a weekend or holiday trip of it are in for a treat beyond the high caliber productions that are generated by the theatre, which is surrounded by gorgeous landscapes, historical landmarks, and is within 20 minutes of Shenandoah National Park. The Shenandoah Valley is host to some of the most beautiful sights in the United States and, through Skyline Drive, one can also access highly enjoyable hikes, campsites and adventures through nature. The Shenandoah River is also a mere 10-minute drive away from the theatre and is another excellent source for outdoor adventure. For history buffs, the theatre is literally within five minutes of the new Cedar Creek/Belle Grove National Park, home to Belle Grove plantation, Cedar Creek Battlefield, and the Wayside Inn, all of which are deeply entrenched in the historical events of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

Pure star power and high quality performances have graced the Wayside Theatre’s stage over the past few decades. Many famous names and faces have been a part of the company, including Kathy Bates, Susan Sarandon, Peter Boyle, Stacy Keach, Delane Matthews and Franc Luz, to name a few; also, who knows which future celebrities may be passing through the theatre as interns and fledgling performers? The stage is often graced by the on- and off-stage presence of performers and technicians from NYC, D.C., Chicago and more, a good number of whom have worked on independent films and large-scale productions in their respective cities.

The theatre offers a little something for everyone with performance genres ranging from classical pieces to rock and roll musicals, from historical works to slapstick comedy. Each season presents audiences with a new medley of themes and ideas brought alive by expert directing, flawless productions, and beautiful set pieces.

The theatre has an intimate feel to it, a quality that keeps patrons coming back for years on end. With just under 170 seats, there is no “bad” seat to be had; indeed, because of the small interior space of the theatre, audiences cannot help but be drawn directly into the performance from the minute the lights dim and are held captivated until the end of the show.

Finally, the theatre is much more involved with and contributes much more to the community than the average performance venue; to elaborate, not only does the theatre offer intensive acting classes for area youth of all ages but is also, quite literally, one of the main cornerstones of the local economy through its attraction of tourists and theatre enthusiasts.

After experiencing a performance, you will surely understand how the theatre truly earns its reputation as “the hardest working theatre in Northern Virginia.”

“Man of LaMancha” is playing June 6–July 4. For information, visit www.waysidetheatre.org or call 540-869-1776.