Wayne Theatre project marks topping off

The Wayne Theatre Alliance and Mathers Construction will celebrate the topping off of the Wayne Theatre on Thursday, July 30 at noon.  The celebration marks the last blocks being set on the new stage tower that adds more a floor and a half to the landmark building in downtown Waynesboro.

According to WTA officials, “topping off “ is a tradition to celebrate the capping of the exterior construction.  Although much work is usually required before the building is inhabitable, the “topping off’ is a public notice of the progress of construction. The tradition began in Scandinavia and migrated to England and Europe and is now a part of many building projects in America.

“The Wayne Theatre ‘topping off’ marks the completion of the masonry for the fly tower.  The building is now the tallest on Main Street,” said Clair Myers, Executive Director of the Alliance.  “There is still much work to be done in the interior; However, the Wayne Theatre will open as a destination center in 2016.”

The Wayne Project will open as the Virginia and Paul Ross Center for the Performing Arts Center.  It will house the Wayne Auditorium, the Custin Cabaret, and the unnamed lecture/meeting hall.  The multi-functional center will provide appropriate venues for a full-range of performances, meetings, and public and private events.  The Project began in 2000 when the Wayne Theatre was shuttered and the building given to the City of Waynesboro.  The projected end of construction is December 31, 2015 with a grand opening of the Center in early 2016.