WAYNESBORO, VA (Rocktown Now) — The Wayne Theatre presents “Singin’ in the Rain”, opening Friday, May 8, 2026, and will run until Sunday, May 17, 2026.

Artistic Director Lesley Larsen says the production is about Hollywood’s transition from silent films into “talkies”, or the films we know today.

Josh Donohue and Rhys McRoberts. Photo credit: Carolynn Unger.

“And through that, we see people fall in love,” said Larsen. “We see people discover themselves and we see people come together to make film the best it can possibly be.”

The Wayne Theatre is celebrating two milestones this year. 100 years since its original opening in 1926 and 10 years since reopening in 2016 as a restored nonprofit performing arts organization. 

Kelsey Harrison. Photo credit: Carolynn Unger.

Larsen said the theatre started as a vaudeville house, then transitioned into a film house, and then to a live theater. As part of the show, film will be incorporated into the live production.

“There are several filmed moments in the show that the creators give you the option to do it live,” said Larsen. “I could see doing it live at many other places, but at the Wayne, it felt so wonderful and iconic for our theatrical going audiences to experience a film at the Wayne and a theater piece at the Wayne.”

Josh Donohue (left) and Collin Wheeler (right). Photo credit: Carolynn Unger.

Larsen said that this show was created as a golden age musical to help a nation come out of an emotional depression caused by World War II.

“It was created as a golden age musical, and what those were meant to do was to help a nation come out of an emotional depression that the war caused,” said Larsen. “And every piece of golden age musical theater is meant to establish and reiterate that we are creative, that we are full of joy, and that we are a nation that is going to spread all of that joy as much as we possibly can.”

For more information, visit Singin’ in the Rain – Wayne Theatre | Waynesboro, VA.