The Art of Community: Kira Lace Hawkins' Journey

What happens when artistry meets community service in a small Midwestern town? The story of Kira Lace Hawkins and the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts reveals the extraordinary magic that unfolds when creativity takes root.

Kira describes theater as "mental floss" that helps us see the world with fresh eyes—a perfect metaphor for the transformative work happening at this unique theater-in-the-round in Warsaw, Indiana. As the Outreach and Education Director, Kira nurtures both emerging talent and seasoned performers while building bridges throughout the community. From her conservatory classes that welcome everyone from second-graders to adults to professional summer productions that rival Broadway quality, her work epitomizes how the arts can become the heartbeat of a community.

The Wagon Wheel's seemingly modest venue belies its outsized impact. With 836 seats circling performers in an intimate arena, productions require innovative staging solutions—actors crawl through underground tunnels nicknamed "Shawshank" and elaborate sets emerge from beneath the stage floor. But what truly distinguishes this organization is its legacy of launching careers. Alumni have gone on to perform on Broadway stages (including a current Eliza in Hamilton), creating a remarkable artistic pipeline between rural Indiana and the nation's theater capital.

Kira's own journey weaves together unexpected threads. Growing up in a musical Minnesota family (the "Von Laces"), she found her way to Indiana after meeting her husband, whose fourth-generation family farm now operates alongside her theater career. This intersection of sustainable agriculture and performing arts creates a unique perspective on creativity—as her husband says, "the farm has truly become his symphony."

With an exciting season ahead featuring Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, South Pacific, Sister Act, Steel Magnolias, and Grease, now is the perfect time to experience the Wagon Wheel's community-centered magic. Subscribe to their newsletter or visit wagonwheelcenter.org to discover how this nearly 70-year institution continues to prove that the arts aren't just entertainment—they're essential to helping us connect with our shared humanity.

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