This is the property Wabash Area Community Theater is looking at as its future home. Photo provided
After years of searching, the Wabash Area Community Theater [WACT], a local nonprofit performing arts organization, is closing in on having an official home.
While WACT’s search for an official location has been on for decades, the initiative ramped up about a year ago, as the organization’s assets – props, costumes, set lumber, paint, etc. – have been scattered around the county at various locations. Therefore, WACT’s 12-member board of directors created a building subcommittee to oversee the initiative.
“We’ve had our eye on a few properties this year,” WACT board President Bev Vanderpool said. “In all, we’ve taken official tours of several locations in Wabash, but the planets never aligned on them for one reason or another.
“Now, we have a purchase agreement in place for a great piece of property on the south side of Wabash that we’re in love with. It’s just perfect.”
The property, at 1620-1640 S. Wabash St., Wabash, is located near Nancy J’s Fabrics, B-K Root Beer and Kitchens Plus, just south of Shady Lane Drive. The .63-acre plot of land has two structures that will be used to house the aforementioned assets and create a legacy of perpetuity for WACT.
The larger structure has a 900-square-foot office area for business meetings, a 2,250-square-foot section for storing costumes and props, and an 81,000-cubic-foot pole frame building that features 18-foot ceilings and a loft area that will be intended for set construction and storage.
A separate 1,260-square-foot pole frame building is also situated on the property, with plans for it to possibly house WACT’s production rehearsals one day. The property also features a large parking lot.
“We have big plans for the property,” WACT board Vice President Eric Seaman said. “This isn’t a short-term initiative. This will be the home for WACT for years to come.
“People come to our spring comedies and fall musicals. Most don’t realize just how much work it takes to put on a full-fledged production, especially our fall performances at the Honeywell Center. With this building, not only will executing these shows become easier, we’ll be able to make them bigger and better than ever.”
The Wabash Area Community Theater is also a huge supporter of children’s theaters in the area. WACT owns most of the set pieces, props and costumes that are available, free of charge, to local high schools and the Visual and Performing Arts Theater.
“As a nonprofit 501©3 arts organization, all donations are tax deductible.
“We rely on the community’s support to keep us financially afloat through purchasing tickets for our performances and, largely, donations,” WACT board Treasurer Howard Kaler said. “This community, for years and years, has found a way to support projects like this and we’re confident that they’ll do so again with this initiative because it’s going to add so much more to Wabash.
“This is an arts community and WACT is thrilled that we get to entertain hundreds of people annually with our shows. Supporting this project will help solidify what we all know: this is a small town with a big-city feel when it comes to what it can offer.”
Those who would like to support the project can do so by sending a check to Wabash Area Community Theater at P.O. Box 840, Wabash, IN 46992, with “Building” in the memo line.
For those who would like to give online, a GoFundMe page titled “WACT Building Fundraiser” has also been created for the project. Those who are interested in making a gift, but would like more information, contact Vanderpool at vanderpob@yahoo.com.
WACT’s mission is as follows: “Wabash Area Community Theater nurtures the creative spirit of area residents by providing focused educational experiences in all areas of live theater as members work to produce quality live performances that enhance Wabash’s cultural offerings.”
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