She rolls with whatever because that is what someone who works in the entertainment venue industry has to do all day and every day.
That is why very little rattles Sonya Fedorko, but this pandemic surely did. One event after another was forced to cancel at Wesbanco Arena and the Capitol Theatre, including weddings, bull riding, professional hockey, and Broadway shows. There are other nuptials, shows, and Wheeling Symphony concerts scheduled for August and on, but with this unpredictable pandemic Fedorko remains uncertain how the coming months could be impacted.
She’s worked at Wesbanco Arena for 24 years and for the Capitol Theatre the last 11, and Fedorko is technically the marketing/advertising director for both venues, but she’s more than willing to hop into the box office to sell tickets or to pour beer behind a concession stand. One reason for the all-in attitude comes from the fact that she works for a man, Denny Magruder, who owns a philosophy that family comes first. That approach has allowed for some freedom, too, when it has come to Fedorko’s husband and children.
She and her husband, Chris, are raising two daughters, Morgan and Lexus, and the couple also parent three foster children in Woodsdale. During the entertainment shutdown, Wheeling and Oglebay parks have saved them when searching for activities for the kids, but don’t ask her about the roller blades.
Yeah, that’d be bad.
How busy was WesBanco Arena supposed to be during the spring and summer months and what were some of the big events that had to be canceled because of the pandemic?
The coronavirus really came to light for us around March 7 during the MEC tournament. The media was calling us to see if we were finishing the tournament, and the tournament finished as scheduled. A Nailers game on March 10 was out final event.
We literally cancelled a three-game Nailers series and the Pro Bull Riders show the next day. The PBR is one of biggest concession makers of the season, and it’s now moved to August 28 and 29. Not only was the remainder of the Nailers season cancelled, but the second Indoor Football season didn’t even start. Viper Pit Wrestling brought people in from at least 12 states which typically loaded up the hotel rooms during a two-day tournament that also was postponed to August.
WVNCC and John Marshall’s graduation cancelled, and Wheeling Park’s commencement was postponed to August. The Capitol had to cancel two Broadway Shows – “The Color Purple” and “An American in Paris” – that did not take place, and the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra Symphony had three shows left in its season including an anticipated Disney-themed concert.
COVID-19 has been the wedding Industry’s worst nightmare, and we’ve cancelled five weddings at the Capitol. The ones that have hung on waited week-to-week for the governor’s announcements for things to come back to what seems to be the new normal. DJ’s and dancing at receptions made a comeback July 1.
We still have three dance recitals on the schedule, including one the last week in July and two in August. The neat thing is we have some dance schools from Pennsylvania calling us to rent in August for their recitals. We have the green light for weddings and receptions. but not inside the theatre.
How have Wesbanco Arena and the Capitol Theatre been maintained during the pandemic?
When the pandemic started, we took it as if we were in “summer mode.” Every inch of the building has been cleaned out. Things we haven’t had time to work on were getting the tweaks needed. The floors have been buffed and waxed and the walls got a fresh coat of paint. It was also our first season taking out the ice in a different way. It really gave the staff time to devise a plan and take out the ice and be able to store it properly.
Plus, Mark Stuckey is currently power washing the outside of the Arena.
People were very critical of you and your family for traveling for a vacation. What precautions did you take to remain safe from the coronavirus?
When we left for North Myrtle Beach it wasn’t declared a “Hot Spot” yet. So, seeing the over-crowded beach picture circulating and reading the very angry comments from people in the valley saying the beach was closed while we sat there sort of gave us a chuckle.
Yes, this matter is serious, but I can see how quickly rumors can spread especially when it comes to the valley’s favorite vacation spot. The beach, as of now, is actually still open. We stayed in what I consider a non-tourist spot that is called a Place at the Beach. We’ve stayed there quite a few years because it comes with a full kitchen, and cooking daily was something I always enjoyed on vacation because I’ve never felt rushed.
We always ate more home-cooked meals on vacation than at home. Did we go out to eat? Yes, on three occasions, and Myrtle Beach was pretty serious about their COVID-19 procedures. The day before we returned, it became a hot spot, BUT what determines a Hot Spot? Ohio County was declared one with 52 people testing positive.
We did test upon returning and received negative results.
How have you kept your children busy during their summer vacation?
We bought a family pass to Wheeling Park and Oglebay Pool and Zoo, and those places have become part of our daily routine. We are trying to walk to the zoo three days a week to get the boys outside feeling normal and maybe just a little tired (note to parents … it doesn’t work). I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone a little, and we’ve gone hiking at Raven’s Rock and also at Oglebay.
Poison Ivy is not my friend, so my head spins the whole time I’m walking through woods looking for it. We also bought a “hot item,” a fire pit, and we enjoy nights outside making smore’s. We also have had a lot of cookouts for dinner.
Roller blades are the new thing this summer. We all got them, and we all have fallen a time or 10. The boys are also blessed the YMCA camp opened for summer break. Brian Blazier and his staff make things happen there, and I can’t thank them enough for the dedication and the things they teach the kids. They really make memories for kids that last a lifetime.
King’s Daughters opened back up for the summer also, and our youngest enjoys going there every day. The nicest thing about living in Woodsdale is the neighbors. My boys know if they can’t get the third popsicle of the day inside the house, they can go outside and be blessed with cookies, treats and popsicles! The neighbors love them!
Have you ever experienced any paranormal activity inside WesBanco Arena or the Capitol Theatre?
This is actually a funny question. I wish, but I haven’t. I have had encounters “with friends,” but not ghosts.
Two funny quick stories: The first one is the Broadway Show “Wizard of Oz” I think in 2011. During the scene where Dorothy walks into the Haunted Forrest, there were bats that start circling over the balcony, and it seemed to be a natural appearance in the show. But it left everyone skeptical and asking after the performance, “Was that part of the show?” No one was really sure how to answer that question let alone with a straight face. It’s a story we tell all the time.
The second story is that we used to do special board Christmas parties, but it came to a point where a board member suggest that we should start going to local places.
The first year the theatre re-opened, a board member got very creative and decided we should do a movie at the Capitol Theatre. We watched “The Christmas Tree Miracle” made right here in the Ohio Valley.
During the movie our friends, the bats, made their appearance, and people started laughing and wondering how the movie could do that? I turned around laughing and said to her, “This isn’t a 3-D movie!” Everyone laughed so hard.
