By JANET McGREGOR
Contributing Writer

Dr. Thomas and Sylvia Wade are well-known names among those who keep up with local theater.

Five years ago the Wade family moved from the Northside of Atlanta to Tyrone to “enjoy a better way of life.” Another compelling reason was the proximity to Tom's office near the airport.

The Wades had a longtime love and appreciation of the theater and frequently attended shows. Therefore, it is easy to understand why one of the couple's first moves after settling in was to join the local Endowment for the Cultural Arts Committee.

Their daughter, Leslie, was somewhat instrumental in propelling her parents into a stronger involvement in local theater. As a sixth grader she had a role in a local Fayette Community Theater play. The Wades volunteered to help and have been helping in some form every since.

When Fayette Community Theater decided to form a board, Sylvia was asked to serve. Shortly after the FCT board formed, the Endowment for the Cultural Arts (ECCA) and FCT became “partners in art.”

While Sylvia laughs when asked is she has acted in any of the plays, husband Tom has taken the plunge. He had a role in recent FCT production, “Voices from the Titanic.”

“I had a good time,” he said. “But it's time consuming.” He's not sure if he will act again, but he is open to the possibility.

He said, “Fortunately I played an American character so I didn't have to speak with an English accent.”

Sylvia is chairman of the board for the Theater group. All of the board members pitch in during a production. Sylvia has worked the concession stand, helped with costumes, taken tickets, handed out programs and many other jobs. She says, “We're a very hands-on board.”

The theater group is always looking for volunteers to help in many capacities. Sylvia said, “We're always interested in people interested in the arts.”

She has even recruited her mother to help hand out programs. She says, “She loves to help out.”

While many local seniors attend the plays, there are also numerous volunteer opportunities for those who would like to get behind the scenes. There are even opportunities for those interested in being in a scene!

The productions are all family-oriented and the plays range from children's productions to adult. The theater group is hoping to do its first Broadway production, “The Music Man,” sometime next summer.

They are currently working on a number of children's productions and another adult “dessert” theater, which has been very successful.

Theater Box Inset

Fayette Community Theater, Sylvia Wade, 770-486-9302 Offshoot Productions, 770-631-2362

Endowment Committee for the Cultural Arts, 770-486-9302 or 770-487-8330 Acting Classes, 770-599-0051

Southside Theater Guild (Fairburn), 770-969-0956 Newnan Community Theatre Company, 770-251-1276

Back to the Prime Timers Home Page Back to the Top of the Page