Wayside Theatre to host festival

MIDDLETOWN -- The Wayside Theatre's 2009 Student Playwriting Festival will feature a staged-reading style performance of "Come Along My Dear, Come Along," written by Skyline High School student Noah Scheibmeir, on the main stage on May 4 at 7 p.m.

Admission is free and the theater will hold a "talk back" session with the author after the performance.

The Playwriting Festival is sponsored by First Bank, BB&T Bank and the Virginia Commission for the Arts.

Scheibmeir, of Front Royal, won first place in the festival for area students attending the region's public, private or home schools, according to a theater press release. As first-place winner, Scheibmeir receives a staged-reading performance, the T. Carter Fussell 2009 Outstanding Playwright Award, a U.S. savings bond from First Bank and tickets to a show in the 2009-10 season.

Scheibmeir is working with Thomasin Savaiano, who will direct and cast his production with a combined cast of adults and children for the staged reading.

Wayside Theatre is the second oldest professional theater in the Shenandoah Valley and is celebrating its 47th season.

Call the box office at 869-1776 or visit www.waysidetheatre.org for more information.

Daily Staff Report