The Greater Augusta Regional Chamber Commerce and members of the community gathered at 535 W. Main Street in Downtown Waynesboro this afternoon to celebrate a new addition.
“We’re super excited to be here today to celebrate this ribbon cutting with the Wayne Theatre and Studio Wayne,” GARCC President/CEO Courtney Thompson said. “This is such a cool location.”
Tracy Straight is The Wayne’s executive director.
“This is a home for you all, and to be able to have a space to call home we are very excited about,” Straight said.
Studio Wayne will allow education opportunities at The Wayne Theatre to grow.
Waynesboro Vice Mayor Jim Wood, a former touring musician, said that federal and state funding for the arts has been cut in public schools in recent years.
“So, having a place like this here in Waynesboro is just a breath of fresh air,” Wood said.
According to Straight, the studio will provide rehearsal, stage combat and dance space for Wayne Theatre actors. The space will also function as a black box theater and a space for small performances of visual arts, comedy improv, dance, music, open mic nights and teen improv comedy. As a home for education, classes for children and adults will be taught in the studio.