The Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts has announced an interim leadership structure as it moves into its 2024 summer season and approaches the organization’s 70th anniversary.
Following the recent resignation of its most recent executive director, Lakesha Green, the organization is now restructuring to maximize the leadership abilities of some of its most tenured employees, according to a news release from the Wagon Wheel. Emily Illingworth Kosnik, current board chair, announced that a new triumvirate of Kira Lace Hawkins, Holly Lantz and Scott Michaels will be the interim team to propel the arts organization into the months ahead.
Hawkins has been appointed as the director of education and community engagement. Hawkins has been leading the Wagon Wheel Conservatory and Wagon Wheel Community Theatre, and she has spent the past year under the tutelage of a theater management expert from Indianapolis to refine her leadership and administrative skills. In this expanded role, Hawkins will enhance community relationships and donor development efforts, becoming the new face of the organization. She will work directly with the board of directors on fundraising initiatives and donor relations, and she will oversee community engagement activities and educational programs.
Hawkins has been a member of the Wagon Wheel family since 2007, performing in more than 50 Wagon Wheel Professional Theatre productions, leading summer workshops, teaching acting classes and directing Wagon Wheel Junior productions. Her roles as a crowd favorite on the Wagon Wheel stage include Francesca in “The Bridges of Madison County,” Diana in “Next to Normal,” Donna in “Mamma Mia,” The Witch in “Into the Woods” and more. Named education director in fall 2021, she has been instrumental in developing Wagon Wheel Conservatory into a premier arts education institution for community members at all stages of life, the release states.
Michaels, artistic director, will be responsible for the Wagon Wheel’s artistic vision and production units — the professional theater, Wagon Wheel Junior and the Wagon Wheel Concert Series. Michaels became the artistic director of Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts in 2008 and the first full-time artistic director in 2010 after the organization became a nonprofit. Prior to that, he spent 12 Wagon Wheel Professional Theatre seasons as resident choreographer and director on nearly 100 productions.
Working alongside Michaels on the artistic side of operations will be Jennifer Dow, Wagon Wheel’s associate artistic director. In her 25 years with the Wagon Wheel organization, Dow has been involved in all aspects of the theater, including performing in more than 100 shows.
Lantz will become director of operations, with oversight responsibility for Wagon Wheel’s financial operations, human resources, box office, marketing, facilities and coordination with Jason Luke Thompson in his role as principal conductor and artistic director of the Symphony of the Lakes.
Lantz began her work with Wagon Wheel as a bookkeeper in 2015. She subsequently was promoted to director of finance, using her creative, financial and operational skills to help guide the future of the Wagon Wheel.
Regarding the new interim leadership structure, Kosnik said, “We are really excited to maximize the leadership experience and abilities of these long-term employees who have deep experience and investment in the ongoing welfare of the Wagon Wheel.”
Board vice chair Adam Turner said, “As the board considered our next leadership moves, we realized we had an opportunity to maximize a quality core of leadership that already know the theater, know the audience and know the community supremely well. We have full confidence that this group, working with our board, will forge a new and exciting future for the arts in our northern Indiana community. We couldn’t be more excited about the future!”
The first professional theater summer show, “Beauty and the Beast,” opened June 6, and will be followed throughout the summer by “Kiss Me Kate,” “The Wedding Singer,” “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.” Further information is available by calling 574-267-8041 or by visiting wagonwheelcenter.org.