Oh, hey there, Pen Pal! Sam here. 👋😊

And just like that, 50 performances later, we’ve officially closed the curtain on our 2026 Summer Season!

If you follow us on social media (and I don’t know why you wouldn’t!), you may have already seen my final thoughts on the season, along with one of my favorite candid photos I took this summer. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can check it out by clicking HERE.

There’s a lot I could say about this summer. Honestly, it all feels a little bit like a blur. But more than anything, I’m just incredibly honored that we got to share it with you. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for cheering us on. And thank you for dreaming with us. And speaking of dreaming...

You’re going to want to stick around until the very end of this newsletter, because I’m sharing what might be the most exciting news Wagon Wheel has had in more than 30 years.



NO SKIPPING AHEAD! That’s cheating. 😉

And although we just closed up Anything Goes, you should know by now that the Wheel never stops rolling! So, are you ready? Buckle in, Pen Pal. There’s a LOT to cover, and I’m here with everything you need to know:

🎪 Coming up at the Wheel...

🍂 AUGUST - Fall Conservatory Classes are OPEN for registration!

This one is for the kids AND the grown ups! If you joined us for any of our summer shows and found yourself thinking, “Wow, I sure would like to be on that stage…” or “Tap dancing looks like fun!” or maybe even, “How did they DO that fight scene? I wanna try that!” YOU CAN!

Fall Conservatory classes are officially open for registration, and there’s a whole bunch of new adventures waiting for you.

Click HERE for a full list of classes, times, descriptions, and all that good stuff. ◡̈

We have classes for grades 2 through adults in musical theatre, acting, dancing, and improv. What better way to make new friends, try something completely new in a safe and supportive environment, and enrich your life through creativity?

You’ll meet once a week for six weeks, beginning August 24 (which, by the way, is SO SOON!).

And remember, financial assistance is always available. We never want cost to be the reason you miss out on the chance to create something to be proud of.

Have a question? My best pal and our Outreach & Education Director, Kira Lace Hawkins, is here to help! You can reach her at kira@wagonwheelcenter.org.

🪩 SEPTEMBER - Wagon Wheel Community Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

You’ve heard me talk about this one all summer, but I’m popping in with another friendly reminder because Wagon Wheel Community Theatre is presenting A Midsummer Night’s Dream this September!

And what’s even cooler? This production is 1980s themed!

It’s being directed by the one and only Dana McAfee, and I have a feeling it’s going to be vibrant, fresh, wildly fun, and, obviously, soooooo groovy. ;)

You can catch it September 25, 26, or 27. Click HERE for tickets!

There’s something indescribably special about seeing the local talent of this community take our stage. These are your neighbors, friends, family members, and fellow Pen Pals, and I think that’s something worth celebrating.

So come see what our community can do. I have a feeling you’re going to have a good time.

🎃 OCTOBER - Wagon Wheel Junior’s Sleepy Hollow the Musical

You should know by now that I have such a soft spot for Wagon Wheel Junior. These kids have my whole heart.

And I’ll tell you something super special right here and now: so does Scott Michaels. So much so that he’s coming BACK to direct this one after taking a little break for a while. And if you know Scott, you know how much he loves working with these young performers.

This time around, he’s taking them into the wonderfully spooky world of Sleepy Hollow the Musical. Follow the superstitious schoolmaster Ichabod Crane as he arrives in Sleepy Hollow searching for love, only to find himself tangled up in rivalries, ghost stories, and, of course, the legend of the Headless Horseman.

With humor, memorable songs, and just the right amount of Halloween thrills, Sleepy Hollow is a delightfully spooky adventure the whole family can enjoy together! ◡̈

And I have a feeling these kids are going to have an absolute blast bringing it to life.

You can catch Sleepy Hollow on October 23, 24, or 25. Click HERE for tickets!

🎺 NOVEMBER - Symphony of the Lakes’ Heavenly Harmonies Concert

And while we’re talking about all the wonderful things happening around Wagon Wheel, I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you about what Symphony of the Lakes has coming up!

On November 14, you’re invited to join us for Heavenly Harmonies, an evening that, quite honestly, sounds like exactly the kind of thing we could all use a little more of.

This concert is all about the way music can lift your spirit and soothe your soul. The program features Ravel’s Le Tombeau de Couperin and Handel’s Ode for St. Cecilia’s Day, bringing together moments of joy, serenity, peace, and hope through the incredible storytelling that can only happen when you experience live music.

There’s something pretty magical about sitting in a room and letting an orchestra tell you a story without saying a single word.

So, if you’re looking for an evening to slow down, breathe a little deeper, and let some beautiful music wash over you, this one’s for you.

Heavenly Harmonies takes the Wagon Wheel stage November 14. Click HERE for tickets!

🎄 DECEMBER - Wagon Wheel Professional Theatre’s Annie

Okay, Pen Pal. Here’s a fun fact you probably didn’t know about me: Annie was the first musical I ever saw. And it’s also the musical whose cast recording I know front to back, back to front. Every lyric is basically engraved in my brain at this point.

So you can imagine how excited I am that we’re bringing Annie back to Wagon Wheel as our 2026 Professional Theatre Holiday Show!

Set during the Great Depression, Annie follows a determined young orphan whose optimism and courage have a way of changing the lives of everyone around her, from her fellow orphans to billionaire Oliver Warbucks. And, of course, it features some of those songs you probably already know by heart: “Tomorrow,” “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Maybe,” and so many more.

But underneath all those familiar songs is a story that feels just as meaningful today as it did when Annie first captured my heart. It’s a story about resilience, family, hope, and finding a little bit of light even when things feel pretty dark. And if you’ve never seen Annie before, well...I think you’re in for a treat, personally. 


Annie runs every weekend in December, so make this one part of your holiday tradition!

Click HERE for tickets.

❤️ Wagon Wheel is finally getting some much needed TLC!

I have been trying to figure out how to tell you this without sounding like a broken record, but honestly, I don’t think I can. Because this is one of those moments where I feel like I just need to sit down across from you and say, “Do you realize what’s happening?!”

Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts has been awarded a $1.4 MILLION grant through the READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Initiative.

I’m sorry, but…$1.4 MILLION. After decades of dreaming, hoping, planning, waiting, and wondering if we would ever get the chance to make some of these improvements, it’s finally happening.

And Pen Pal, we’re not talking about a fresh coat of paint and calling it a day. We’re talking about an expanded theater lobby and NEW RESTROOMS (you heard me right!), essential renovations to our Conservatory, and a new theater sound system.

This investment will help us continue to invest in our Artist-in-Residence program, Broadway 360's pre-professional training, a new Conservatory vocal track, and the return of the Wagon Wheel Concert Series. This is the kind of thing we’ve been dreaming about for a LONG time. And now it’s actually happening.

But I need you to hear me when I say this: we still need you.

This $1.4 million grant is a transformational step forward, but it doesn’t mean we can stop asking our community to support Wagon Wheel. In fact, your support is more important than ever. As we navigate construction, there will be adjustments to programming, and there are still additional capital projects we want to tackle, including parking lot repaving, new signage, and improvements to our façade.

We have spent so long talking about what Wagon Wheel could be. Now, for the first time in a very long time, we get to start making that dream a reality. And I want you to be part of it.

If you’re able, please consider making a donation by clicking HERE. And because I know you love a good Wagon Wheel souvenir, there’s a little something in it for you, too: anyone who gives $50 or more will receive a limited-edition “Proud Supporter of Wagon Wheel’s Next Act” vinyl sticker in the mail!

I hope you’ll put that sticker somewhere proudly, because it’s more than just a sticker. It’s a little reminder that you were here. That you believed in Wagon Wheel. That you helped us take this next step.

There is so much ahead of us, Pen Pal. I cannot wait to take you along for the ride over the next 873 days.

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.

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

🎪 There's no place like Wagon Wheel,