Wagon Wheel Center
for the Arts in Warsaw, Indiana.
Wagon Wheel
Center for the Arts
Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Warsaw, Indiana.
Producing transformative theatre-in-the-round productions since 1956 where you’re never more than 10 rows away from the stars!
Our mission is to enrich lives by fostering innovative educational programs, developing professional talent, and connecting communities through transformative performing arts experiences.
Our vision is to honor our legacy while shaping the future as the region’s leading center for arts education, performing arts, and community connection.
We accomplish our mission by:
- Providing our rural community with exceptional artistic performances in theatre, orchestra, and music.
- Increasing access to arts education services for youth, adults, and professionals.
- Strengthening our local economy through tourism and quality of place.
EDIA Commitment
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility
At Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, we proudly welcome people of all races, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and abilities. We are committed to building a creative home where all voices feel seen, respected, and celebrated. Inclusion, fairness, and respect are not just ideals. We live them through our actions. We actively work to identify and dismantle racism, bias, and discrimination of any kind, and we hold ourselves and our collaborators accountable to that work. We believe that the diverse identities and lived experiences of our artists, staff, and audiences are essential to telling richer stories and creating a more vibrant, inspiring space for all.
Theatre-in-the-Round
The Wagon Wheel is one of the oldest theatres-in-the-round in the nation. While newcomers and avid theatre goers may be familiar with proscenium stages, where the audience is all facing toward the stage watching the show through the picture-frame-like proscenium arches, theatre-in-the-round creates a more immersive and unique theatre experience. Presenting large theatrical shows like Into the Woods, Mary Poppins, and Newsies presents many creative challenges as most of the shows the Wagon Wheel produces were written and first presented with proscenium stage in mind. The Wagon Wheel has to fit all of the scenery, dancing, and story in a smaller space and can’t use large backdrops to transport the audience from location to location either. But does this mean the actors will have their backs to you the whole time? Of course not! In fact, the choreography and stage direction of the Wagon Wheel’s directors is so effortless and beautiful that the entire performance will feel natural – like you are there in the moment with the actors and the story!
