Effective Jan. 1, the Wagon Wheel Theatre’s operational transition to a not-for-profit entity will be complete.
After 56 seasons as a for-profit organization and 14 years affiliated with the Ramada brand, the Wagon Wheel Theatre Inc. is now 100 percent community supported and owned. This new venture allows the theater to continue its legacy of captivating, inspiring, entertaining and challenging audiences. More than that, the Wagon Wheel Theatre is now afforded more educational opportunities throughout the year, which prior to this endeavor were not possible.
Artistic Director Scott Michaels, who previously staged the summer stock and holiday shows, has been hired full-time and will soon call Warsaw home.
As director, Michaels has produced some of the most memorable shows in recent history and maintains critical contacts with some of the most talented actors in the country, as well as an established rapport with the top licensing houses. The latter ensures that the Wagon Wheel Theatre will continue staging some of the newest available productions and regional premieres.
John Hand leads the new board of directors as the first elected president. Hand, of Synergy Consulting Inc., is the founder and former president of Lake City Enterprise and the former president of Othy Inc., now Symmetry Medical Inc.
John and his wife, Shirley, have been patrons of Wagon Wheel Theatre since 1985 after moving to Warsaw, and both have been members of the Wagon Wheel Directors Club for several years. He has served on several boards of directors including United Way of Kosciusko County, Purdue Alumni Club of Kosciusko County and Paragon Medical Inc.
“On behalf of the new board of directors of the Wagon Wheel Theatre, I would like to thank you, our patrons, for your continued support and confidence in this incredible, magical place. Without your support, this theater would simply not exist. Your subscription and your ticket purchases not only keep the lights on, but it also keeps our orchestra playing so beautifully and our wonderful artists coming back year after year. Our plan is to work with you to build upon the tradition of excellence, and to expand the theater’s legacy,” he said.
The nine-person-board consists of Hand, Jill Serbousek, Martha Stouder, Bruce Shaffner, Carol Lyn Jansen, Diane McGarvey, Laura Kaufman, Mike Hall and Scott Michaels.
In addition to his board position, Shaffner has accepted the role of interim executive director so that he can assist in the seamless transition of the theater’s operations from the Shaffner & Shaffner Enterprises organization to an independent not-for-profit entity.
The theater relies heavily on the community for its support through the purchase of tickets and concessions. However, ticket sales alone are not enough to sustain the infrastructure of the theater and the housing of productions year after year. The theater is currently seeking corporate donations, government grants, corporate sponsorships and personal donations. While the operational transition will be complete in 2012, current donations to the Wagon Wheel Theatre Inc. are now tax deductible under IRC 501(c)(3).
The award-winning Wagon Wheel Theatre, one of Indiana’s oldest and largest theaters, is well known for high quality theatrical productions and concerts. The Wagon Wheel has championed leadership in the arts since transitioning from a simple tent to theatre-in-the-round in 1956, and now a not-for-profit organization.
The theater’s artistic team is dedicated to training and supporting the next generation of young theater artists, providing educational arts programs, and ultimately promoting an enduring artistic legacy in Northeast Indiana.
For more information regarding Wagon Wheel Theatre Inc., or for charitable contributions, visit the website www.wagonwheeltheatre.org or contact Will Dawson at will@wagonwheeltheatre.org or call 574-267-8041.
