Wolfpack Theater Company finds a more permanent home in the former Waterville School, now Waterville Community Center

by Julie Berg-Raymond

The Wolfpack Theater Company has been growing in popularity since its recent beginnings in the Waukon area. The youth-focused outlet for creativity has now found a more permanent home for its rehearsal and performance space in the former music room of the former Waterville School - now the Waterville Community Center.

The “Wolfpack” - as its members affectionately refer to themselves - was formed last year by Milwaukee-born choreographer, actor, dancer and director (also parent and local businessman) Adam Hooten and his son, Ethan, a senior this year at Waukon High School. The Wolfpack has been using the Waukon Banquet Center and the Waterville Community Center as rehearsal spaces; and their first full-length production, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, was performed on the Waterville school’s original stage in May 2022. They’re working now towards their May 2023 production of Grease; auditions begin in mid-December for that production.

“The stage itself is in good shape,” Hooten says of the theater company’s new Waterville home. “It’s not set up for shows at all, though. Another parent, Jeff Goettel - who is donating the use of his own lights from his band, Smoking Gun Showdown - and I set it up the best we could with curtains/lights/sound, etc.”

That is all part of the fun of being a member of the theater company, says Hooten. “It demonstrates our Wolfpack attitude of putting on a high-quality show, being creative and working with what’s available.”

Currently, Wolfpack members are busy getting their rehearsal space - once the school’s music room and, before that, a basketball gym - into shape. So far, that has mostly involved a lot of elbow grease, as Hooten and a few other Wolfpack members spent much of the summer getting the floor and walls ready for the theater company that will call the space home.

Next up, though, is the space’s crowning touch - a commissioned mural designed and painted by Kee High School sophomore and owner/operator of Candy Heart Ink, Izzy Hammell. (Hammell will be referred to using the pronoun “they” in this article, according to their preference).

“The kids and I decided that we wanted to put our own Wolfpack stamp on it and, while doing so, honor all of the wonderful music educators that have taught in the room,” Hooten says. “I thought a great way to do this was to ask one of our own extremely artistically talented members to design a mural for the room. The mural would encompass our Wolfpack Theater Company swagger, spirit and fun - and also incorporate a way to honor the great educators who have taught in our new rehearsal room throughout the years. I tasked Izzy Hammell with taking the lead on this creative project.”

Hooten first saw Hammell at work when they were involved in the Wolfpack’s production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast last spring. “I saw Izzy’s talent as an artist - both on stage and in designing our playbill cover for us. Knowing how well Izzy did with that and their very impressive involvement in many arts and various programs at Kee High School, Izzy was the perfect choice.”

“Adam didn’t really give me many parameters, but he did give a few prompts - like theater, Broadway, Wolfpack, musical theater, music, acting, etc.,” Hammell says of their artistic task. “He gave me full creative control and I made sure to send him each iteration of the design that I made.”

“Izzy sent me ideas and early designs, and I was most impressed by how they used my feedback on those early designs and iterations to bring the final design to life,” Hooten says. “I also asked if Izzy would design a wall in our new rehearsal room, where we plan on adding the teachers’ names and quotes to honor their work, and the inspiration they gave to so many students through the years.”

Hammell says they took a lot of inspiration from street art and graffiti. “I also wanted to leave little ‘Easter eggs’ in the piece that would make it really feel like it was about Wolfpack - like the hand gesture is one we use to signal Wolfpack in pictures; and the morphed sad and happy face on the wolf is similar to the comedy and tragedy masks in theater,” they shared.

“I am very proud of Izzy, and I think the entire project will be an amazing addition and a great experience for everyone involved,” Hooten says.

Hammell has high praise for their director, too. In response to a reporter’s question about the extent to which Hooten seems to consistently invite the young actors to take charge of their own work and find their own voices, Hammell replied, “I think you hit the nail right on the head about it being centered around youth voices. Adam really tries to focus on his actors having fun in the performances he puts together.”

THEATER COMPANY HISTORY
The young performers of the Wolfpack Theater Company first came together when they were rehearsing for Waukon High School’s production of West Side Story, which was presented in April 2021. The show was directed by Sarah Bieber with assistance from Louise Wild; Hooten handled the choreography. As early as the summer before the performances, the kids were getting together at each other’s houses and practicing the dance numbers Hooten was preparing for the musical.

The experience of working together - kids from different grade levels, involved in everything from athletics to FFA, speech and band, under the direction of a man whose middle name might as well be “Let’s Put on a Show!” - turned out to be one of those experiences that will, in retrospect, mark the moment when everything changed for these talented young people.

The rehearsal process, itself, instilled in the performers a commitment to each other - to showing up and not letting their colleagues down; to helping each other grow in ability, self-confidence, and mutual respect; and to giving back to the community that supports and encourages them. Auditions for Wolfpack Theater Company productions are always open to anyone 22 years of age and younger in Lansing, Waukon, Decorah and the surrounding area.

“I want and encourage kids who are in other activities besides theater to show up,” Hooten says. “We will work around anything you are involved with.”

For Hooten, as for all the core members of the company, an emphasis on “inclusion” is key to everything they do. “Everybody has a role,” Hooten says. “Every kid is going to be important to the story; and everyone who tries out, is going to have a part to play.”

WATERVILLE SCHOOL/COMMUNITY CENTER HISTORY
The former Waterville School is divided into two sections, says Waterville Mayor Dave Monserud. “What we call the ‘53 addition was built in 1953; the ‘53 side is currently being used as the Waterville Community Center.”

When the school property was offered for sale, a date was set by which time bids were to be submitted, Monserud recalls. “We were discussing just how a sale of this property could affect the town at a council meeting; we really were not considering trying to buy it, when we were approached by a small group who offered to make a donation to the City to place a bid on the property. The council accepted that offer and placed a bid. That is how we ended up with the school.”

The dining room and gym area is rented out for family gatherings of all types, and the gym also can be rented for family events such as birthday parties and anniversaries, Monserud says. “We have also rented it for wedding receptions as well as graduations. There is a city council and city office room, along with a community room used primarily by a 4-H club for a meeting room. The main floor is home of the Public Library and a School History room displaying a pictorial history of the Waterville High School graduation classes, along with a display of the trophies and awards earned by the high school,” he says.

“The intent has been to provide a place where families and organizations could meet or be able to rent, taking advantage of what this facility does have to offer,” Monserud says. “Currently, we have winter badminton leagues and regular pickleball days. The Park and Rec committee just finished adding a Disk Golf course outside. In addition, we have our outdoor music festival every year, Country on The Creek. This is a fundraiser for the Community Center, but it goes along with our plan to bring something to the area that has not been available before.”

“As our Wolfpack Theater Company started performing over this last year at the Waterville Community Center, many of the kids involved in our charity events, shows, and leadership opportunities commented on how many of them went to Waterville School when it was open,” Hooten says. “And many of them recalled a music room in the then-unused/shut-off part of the original school. They also noted how nice it would be to bring the room back to life and be able to use it again for our Wolfpack rehearsals.”

When Hooten approached him about allowing the Wolfpack to use the gym and stage last year to put on their production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast last year, Monserud says he was happy to oblige. “It was just another way for us to bring back the history of the school and offer another event to our community,” Monserud says. “Given the success of that play, when Adam approached us about the possibility of using the old music room/former historic Waterville High School gym as the Wolfpack practice area, it was easy to tell him yes.”

“My own kids, Ethan and Ava, went to Waterville school up until it closed in 2017,” Hooten says. “My family has fond memories of the school and of all the wonderful teachers who taught there. Many are still teaching in local area schools, schools across the state, and schools overseas. Many are still good friends and give advice and contribute to the Wolfpack. The school was a high school until 1960; then, most recently, it was a K-sixth grade school until its eventual closure.”

The Wolfpack’s next big show will be Grease this coming spring. Auditions will begin in mid-December; performances are set for May 11-13 on the Waterville Community Center/school stage.

“We do a big spring show and use the proceeds to give back to local community charities and take a Wolfpack cast trip,” Hooten says. “Last year we went to Hamilton at the Des Moines Performing Arts Center. The Wolfpack also is working on a special summer musical to be announced later; and, as always, many community events and charity shows. We have great and very talented kids from various area schools (also homeschooled students) and backgrounds involved; but we would always love more to join our ‘All Star’ team of creative students and actors. If you or anyone you know may be interested in joining our Wolfpack Theater Company family, get ahold of a current member or Adam Hooten at 563-568-1186.”