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BREAKING: MARION SCHOOL BOARD OFFERS RITCHIE WALTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER TO MISSISSINEWA STUDENTS 🎭

The story that began in Gas City has now garnered national attention, drawing responses from bestselling author Jodi Picoult, the Educational Theater Association, and arts supporters across Indiana.

In a unanimous vote Tuesday night, the Marion Community Schools Board of Trustees agreed to offer the Ritchie Walton Performing Arts Center as a venue for Mississinewa High School’s theater students to perform their canceled musical, Between the Lines.

Board member Alan Beck introduced the motion, saying:

“Recently, a local group of high-school performers were denied the opportunity to perform a musical called Between the Lines. It really hit me kind of hard. I think it’s something they should be able to do, and I’d like for us to reach out to this group and offer the Walton Performing Arts Center as an option for them to perform if they so choose.” 

The motion was seconded by Gabe Delgado and passed unanimously by all seven board members: Salamo, Beck, Griffin, Hart, Bento, Delgado, and Gault.

Following the meeting, Beck told Channel 27:

“We just want the community to know that Marion Community Schools supports the arts.”

This new offer comes as Between the Lines author Jodi Picoult and her team work with the licensing agency MTI to approve an off-campus performance and even help cover relocation costs. A Fort Wayne theater group has also extended its support to the Mississinewa students.

As of tonight, the Gas City Performing Arts Center, the original venue has not been ruled out, and no final decision has been made on which offer or combination of offers the students will accept.

What started as a canceled play has now become a statewide and national movement celebrating community support, student creativity, and the power of the arts to bring people together.

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