Hey, Pen Pal! Sam from Wagon Wheel here. 👋😊

Can you believe it? It's the last day of June already. I'm sitting here looking ahead at everything coming up, and wow...there is SO much happening. You'll definitely want to pay close attention to this newsletter because we've got exciting (exclusive) announcements, audition opportunities, and a very, VERY special alumni spotlight that I cannot wait to share with you. (Like, I'm actually freaking out a little bit!)

But before we jump into all of that, can I tell you something?

I've been meeting so many people this summer. Maybe one of them was you! And time and time again, I find myself completely amazed by how many people go out of their way to share what Wagon Wheel means to them. Every time someone trusts me with their Wagon Wheel story, I'm genuinely moved. Whether you've been coming here for decades, had your first date at the Wheel, performed on our stage, or just recently discovered us, your stories inspire me more than you'll know, and they keep me moving forward.

So, thank you. Thank you for loving this place. Thank you for showing up. And thank you for letting me be a tiny part of your Wagon Wheel story. Now, let's get into it!

👟 Community Access Weekend for Footloose!

If you haven't purchased your tickets to Footloose yet, consider this your sign.

For July 3 and July 4 ONLY, every ticket to Footloose is just $25! As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we're so happy to have the opportunity to celebrate with our community in a special way by making live theatre more accessible for the holiday weekend. It's our little "25" tribute to this milestone year and an invitation for more people to experience what makes Wagon Wheel so special.

There is no limit to how many tickets you can purchase, so gather your family, your besties, your neighbors, your coworkers, people you just met, because EVERYONE is invited to be one of the cool kids at Wagon Wheel. Come cut loose with us!

Here's the only catch: This special offer goes live on Friday, July 3 at 10:00 a.m. and ends on Saturday, July 4 at 7:00 p.m., right before the show begins. Our Box Office team cannot honor the discount before July 3 at 10:00 a.m., so don't be too eager. 😉

There are 3 ways to grab your $25 tickets:

• Use promo code COMMUNITY26 during online checkout

• Call the Box Office at (574) 267-8041

• Stop by in person during business hours or before the show

At Wagon Wheel, we believe live theatre should be accessible to everyone, and we can't wait to welcome even more of our community through our doors for Footloose.

And if you've already purchased your tickets to Footloose at full price, I want to add a little something here, just for you. Thank you. Truly.

As a nonprofit organization, your ticket means more than you probably realize. By choosing to support Wagon Wheel, you're helping us create exceptional productions, invest in artists and students, and keep this magical place thriving for future generations.



And because of your support, we're able to open our doors a little wider through Community Access Weekend. Your ticket is helping make it possible for someone who may not have otherwise been able to attend to experience the magic of live theatre for the very first time. I think that's pretty special, and I'm incredibly grateful to you for being part of it. 

🌟 Broadway 360 Auditions Are Almost Here!

Auditions for our Conservatory's pre-professional training program, Broadway 360, are right around the corner! This ten-month cohort runs from August through May and is designed for young performers who are serious about musical theatre and eager to grow in tremendous ways.

Auditions are happening on July 12 OR July 20 (You only need to attend one). If there's a young person in your life who lives and breathes musical theatre, this could be the perfect next step for them.



Questions? Reach out to Broadway 360 Program Director and my pal, Ian B. Connor, at ianbconnor@wagonwheelcenter.org.

🎃 One Audition. Two Shows. It's a Newsletter exclusive announcement! 

We're making things extra easy this year. Auditions for our Wagon Wheel Professional Theatre holiday production of Annie and Wagon Wheel Junior's Halloween production of Sleepy Hollow the Musical (SURPRISE!) are happening on the same day, at the same time!

Join us on August 1 at Wagon Wheel beginning at 10:00 a.m. for performers ages 7-18.

More information will be on our website later, but I had to share with you as soon as possible!



Questions? Reach out to the man himself, Scott Michaels, at scottmichaels@wagonwheelcenter.org.

🎭 Wait...ANOTHER newsletter exclusive?! (Community Theatre, this one is for you!)

If you've ever thought, "I've always wanted to perform at Wagon Wheel," this might just be your moment.

Auditions for our upcoming Wagon Wheel Community Theatre production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (SURPRISE AGAIN!), directed by local legend, and my good friend, Dana McAfee, will take place July 15 and 16 (just pick one!) from 6:00-9:00 p.m., with callbacks on July 18 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at the Conservatory (right next door to the theater).

Performances are September 25, 26, and 27.

Seriously, if you've been waiting for a sign, here it is. Shakespeare, community, and a chance to perform on our iconic stage? Sounds like a pretty magical combination to me.



More information will be on our website later, but I had to share with you as soon as possible! 

🫧 "It's good to see me, isn't it?" - Glinda the Good 💖

Okay. I cannot contain this one.

Not to freak out or anything, but I genuinely cannot believe I get to talk about this month’s alumni spotlight. She means the world to us here at Wagon Wheel, and she is absolutely taking over Broadway right now. There is truly no sign of her slowing down.

It’s 2017 Wagon Wheel alumna McKenzie Kurtz!

If you’re anything like me, you’ve got core memories of watching McKenzie on our stage. She lit up the ensemble in Newsies, brought the house down as Inga in Young Frankenstein, gave us chills as Abigail in The Crucible, and maybe my personal favorite little full-circle moment…she was Ariel in our production of Footloose back in 2017. How cool is that?!

Since her Wagon Wheel days, McKenzie has been unstoppable. Among SO many other roles, She’s played Heather Chandler in Heathers Off-Broadway, Glinda in the 20th anniversary of Wicked on Broadway, and Princess Anna in a tiny, little Disney musical called Frozen on Broadway (Yes, THAT Frozen!). And here’s where it gets extra unbelievable: in Frozen, her Kristoff was none other than 2012 Wagon Wheel alum Noah J. Ricketts.

Two alumni from totally different summers at Wagon Wheel, sharing the same Broadway stage together. That still feels like something we made up, but it’s real!

Right now, you can catch McKenzie on Broadway as Betsy in the TONY AWARD-WINNING musical Schmigadoon! and honestly, it feels like she’s just getting started.

And now for the part I still can’t believe I get to include…she sent a video straight from her dressing room at Schmigadoon! just for YOU!

Go on, take a look:

I want to share something with you for a moment, if you’ll let me.

Wagon Wheel has been around for a long time, and when something becomes part of the fabric of a community, it’s easy for it to start feeling familiar. Familiar can sometimes mean we forget just how extraordinary it really is.

But McKenzie’s journey is one of those rare reminders that gently shakes us awake.

When you sit in our audience, you're not just watching a summer production in a small town. You are watching artists who are actively building national and Broadway careers while still choosing to spend their summers here, in Warsaw, sharing their craft with you at the highest professional level.

That is not typical. It is not common. And it is not something every community gets to experience.

What makes Wagon Wheel so special is that it exists in this in-between space: a place where artists are fully professional, fully committed, and often just steps away from major career milestones. They’re here collaborating with our community, supporting local businesses, forming connections in Warsaw, and then continuing on to stages across the country, carrying a piece of this place with them.

McKenzie is a beautiful example of that. Her time here wasn’t separate from her success, it was part of the foundation of it. And that’s why this matters.

Wagon Wheel only thrives when we actively choose to invest in it. Through tickets. Through donations. Through showing up and bringing people with us. Because what’s happening on our stage right now is not “small town theatre.” It is real, professional, extraordinary work that deserves to be experienced, valued, and shared.

If Wagon Wheel has ever meant something to you, I challenge you to help us keep that momentum going. Forward this email to someone who should know what’s happening here. Bring a friend who’s never been. Be part of someone else discovering Wagon Wheel for the very first time.



Because I can’t wait to see which future stars are currently standing on our stage this summer… and I hope you’re there to see them, too.

As always, thank you for spending a few minutes with me each month. I know your inbox is crowded, and it means the world that you let me pop in and say hello.



I'll see you at Footloose, July 2-11! And remember: ALL tickets for July 3 and 4 are only $25!

Stay safe, stay kind, and I'll see you next time.

🎪 There's no place like Wagon Wheel,