This post was provided by News Now Warsaw
By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts has made numerous positive changes in the past year.
The abrupt departure of Executive Director Lakesha Green a year ago led to a revamping of the leadership structure that no longer has a top executive position.
Wagon Wheel assembled a committee that researched the issue and recommended they eliminate the executive position and spread the duties around to four people.
As it turns out, many professional theaters operate without an executive director.
The leadership group includes Scott Michaels, the artistic director; Jennifer Dow, managing director; Holly Lantz, who oversees finances; and Kira Lace Hawkins, the director of outreach and education.
The new arrangement has created more balance between the front office and the artistic side, Lace Hawkins said.
“I think having the cohesion of those people being the ones to make those decisions and move the organization forward and to really, really have their minds on sustainability and the future has been a real help,” said Lace Hawkins who was joined by Sam Engle, coordinator of communications and donor relations, for interview earlier this week with News Now Warsaw.
Last fall, the theater took on a bold fundraising effort that was aided greatly by two anonymous donors.
“And we ended up raising $85,922 by the end of he year, which was a huge feat, and we could not have done that without the support of the community,” Engle said.
Wagon Wheel also made improvements to the White Hill Manor, where many actors stay during the summer season.
Money for much of that came from American Rescue Plan Act and the county tourism committee that oversees distribution of innkeeper tax revenues used to support local tourism.
Green had a significant role in lining up much of that money.
A new sidewalk now stretches from the main parking lot, which sits down below the theater — a key improvement considering many of the patrons are older.
“Due to the ARPA grant, we have an incredible sidewalk with handrails, which leads up to the front office of the theater, and it looks amazing and we’re really excited, and we know our patrons are really excited about it,” Engle said.
Wagon Wheel also decided to eliminate the final regular show of the season, which had sometimes struggled in part because young actors often had to head back to college before the season’s end.
At the same time, the theater is also featuring a well-known summer lineup that’s prompted strong sales.
“Today, we’re on track, hopefully — wishful thinking — for this to be our best-selling season for a very long time,” Engle said.
You can hear more details about the changes this weekend on the public affairs show, In The Know.
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The new arrangement has created more balance between the front office and the artistic side, said xxx
“I think having the cohesion of those people being the one to make those decisions and move the organization forward and to really, really have their minds on sustainability and the future has been a real help,”
The post Wagon Wheel embraces several changes, improvements as summer seaon approaches appeared first on News Now Warsaw.
