Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
K21 Health Foundation (K21) awarded a grant to Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts to support upgrades to its conservatory, located next to the main theater at 2517 E. Center St., Warsaw.
The funding will help transform the conservatory into a more dynamic space for musical theatre education, according to a news release from the Wagon Wheel.
K21 is a private foundation that focuses on improving health and wellness for the residents of Kosciusko County. This particular project aligns with K21’s community culture and well-being health pillar, which supports initiatives that encourage a culture of health and wellness through community amenities, infrastructure and opportunities that promote active lifestyles.
"Many in our community aren't aware of the full range of theater and dance opportunities available at Wagon Wheel, particularly for our youth," said K21 President and CEO Rich Haddad. "K21 saw a chance to improve access and expand interest for those who consider this their active passion, and we're pleased to invest in this offering for our residents."
The grant will fund essential equipment for the conservatory’s renovation, including a new dance floor, ballet barres, partitions and lighting fixtures. These enhancements were selected to create a safe, flexible and inspiring environment for movement and creativity through musical theatre.
For decades, Wagon Wheel has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading regional theatres, serving as a launchpad for professional performers, the news release states. Through the Wagon Wheel Conservatory, students from elementary age through adulthood can explore theatre arts through classes in acting, dance, singing, improvisation and specialized workshops such as stage combat and dance audition preparation.
“Our conservatory has become a vital part of Wagon Wheel’s mission,” said Outreach and Education Director Kira Lace Hawkins. “We’ve long dreamed of creating a true training ground where children and adults alike can explore and grow through musical theatre. Until now, limited space and resources have kept that vision just out of reach. Thanks to K21’s support, we’re taking a major step forward toward our dream of becoming one of the nation’s leading centers for musical theatre training. For so many of our students, theatre is their sport. It gets them moving, it boosts their mental and emotional well-being and it fuels their creativity. We are so thankful that K21 recognizes this and has chosen to partner with us in such a meaningful way.”
Construction is projected to begin in January, led by Milestone Construction Inc.
