News Release
WARSAW — Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts is launching Broadway 360, a new pre-professional musical theatre training-in-the-round studio for middle and high school students across northern Indiana as part of Wagon Wheel Conservatory.
The year-round program offers advanced instruction in acting, singing and dance for students interested in pursuing college or professional careers in the performing arts, according to a news release from the Wagon Wheel.
Participants will meet weekly on Sunday evenings in two five-month sessions, January to May and August to December, receiving collegiate-level training, masterclasses and mentorship from working industry professionals from New York and beyond. The program includes repertoire development, performance prep, ensemble training and opportunities for students to build audition books tailored to their strengths.
Celebrating its 70th professional season, Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts stands as one of the nation’s leading professional theatres and training programs, with alumni performing in major Broadway productions including “Wicked,” “Hamilton” and Disney’s “The Lion King,” according to the release.
Broadway 360 will be led by Ian B. Connor, a New York–based actor, director and choreographer with more than 17 years of experience in stage and television. His credits include work on “American Idol,” “The Golden Bachelor,” “Star Search” and “Squid Game: The Challenge.” Connor holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from Rockford University and has coached young talent nationwide.
Thomas Hall, a music director and Ball State University professor, will serve as music director. Hall joined Wagon Wheel in 2021 and has worked on more than 30 productions as a performer, music director and educator. Hall is currently completing a Doctor of Arts in Voice Performance at Ball State.
Wagon Wheel Conservatory is led by Outreach and Education Director Kira Lace Hawkins, who holds an MFA in Acting from Penn State and has acted in over 65 Wagon Wheel Professional Theatre productions.
Tuition for the program is $275 per five-month session, with financial assistance available upon request. Wagon Wheel is committed to making arts education accessible to all students. Students ages 12–19 from across Northern Indiana and the surrounding region are eligible to audition.
Auditions will be held Saturday, Dec. 13 at Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts in Warsaw. No registration is required, though interested students may email ianbconnor@wagonwheelcenter.org with questions.
For more information, visit wagonwheelcenter.org/auditions.
