This year marks a major milestone for ARIEL Theatrical – 25 years in the Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre on Main Street in Oldtown Salinas. In the early days, for 15 years prior to having a permanent home, ARIEL utilized driveways, garages, barns, homes, churches, schools, and warehouses, as rehearsal spaces. Performances were scattered around Salinas in a variety of venues, and Sherwood Hall shows, attended by tens of thousands of school children, became the main event each year.
Despite these achievements, ARIEL had nowhere to call home.
After an “all-hands-on-deck” capital fundraising campaign and years of planning and construction, ARIEL could now call the Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre on Main Street “home.” This new reality was wonderful and exciting, but not without challenge. Earthquake retrofits, electrical and plumbing upgrades, audience seating, lighting and sound equipment, and hundreds of other projects kept the early years in the building very busy – and expensive. When one problem was solved, another would not be far behind. Most notably, in 2015 a massive fire in the neighboring building put the theatre in extreme peril and caused significant damage. In 2020, the COVID pandemic closed theatre doors around the world. ARIEL continued to endure.
What began as an idea discussed decades ago at founder Gail Higginbotham’s kitchen table, stands today as a welcoming and vibrant community gathering place where engaging programs and family-friendly entertainment are available to all.
At ARIEL, young people are encouraged to make choices that will help them achieve success on stage, and more importantly, in their own lives.
Annually, approximately 500 kids perform at ARIEL, and roughly 10,000 audience members attend shows. ARIEL has seen growth and change over the years, but continues to stand firmly on its guiding foundational principles: Accountability, Respect, Integrity, Excellence and Leadership – A-R-I-E-L. Here’s to the next 25 years on Main Street!
ARIEL is honored to acknowledge the Sally Hughes Church Foundation as the 2026 Presenting Partner. ARIEL is also grateful to local individuals and businesses for their generous support, including the 2026 Season Sponsors Taylor Farms, Hastie Financial Group, Cardinale Moving & Storage, and Aladin Properties.
For more information, visit ARIEL in the Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre, 320 Main Street, online at www.arieltheatrical.org or call 831-775-0976.
ARIEL is honored to acknowledge the Sally Hughes Church Foundation as the 2026 Presenting Partner. ARIEL is also grateful to local individuals and businesses for their generous support, including 2026 Season Sponsors, Taylor Farms, Hastie Financial Group, Cardinale Moving & Storage, and Aladin Properties.
A special thank you to the Arts Council for Monterey County
for their support for this program.
To honor and memorialize the decades-long impact of beloved ARIEL teacher and choreographer, Diane Chatwin, the Rudi Schulte Family Foundation and Shelley Schulte presented ARIEL with a $10,000 check to fund a much-needed lighting project. With the guidance of lighting specialists and contractors, new equipment was purchased and permanent fixtures were installed to light areas of the stage that previously lacked full coverage. This lighting upgrade was timed to be unveiled during the Christmas season, also known as the “season of lights.” This beautiful gift initiated by Diane’s daughter, Shelley Schulte, and funded by the Rudi Schulte Family Foundation, will allow Diane’s influence and light to brighten the world of the children who step onto the stage at ARIEL for many, many years to come. Founder and Artistic Director, Gail Higginbotham, lost not only her creative partner, but her long-time friend. She shared, “Diane was an integral part of ARIEL from its inception 40 years ago. It is impossible to measure the influence for good that she had upon thousands of children, young and old. The light, warmth, and generosity of spirit which she radiated touched everyone in her presence. We miss her every day.”
Donations to ARIEL in memory of Diane Chatwin are gratefully accepted and can be made securely online here.
Located in the beautifully renovated Oldtown neighborhood of Salinas, ARIEL Theatrical provides opportunities for children to explore the stage and learn valuable lessons about Accountability, Respect, Integrity, Excellence and Leadership – A-R-I-E-L. ARIEL is a safe and nurturing gathering place for young people where engaging programs and family-friendly entertainment take center stage.
Adapted from Norton Juster’s beloved children’s book, this riveting musical will take audiences on an unforgettable adventure.
ARIEL summer camp performers will open the door to the distant Land of Wisdom where a young boy, Milo and his time-keeping dog Tock, meet Princesses Rhyme and Reason, and an array of other quirky characters. Working together to bring peace to feuding kings, they discover and learn to appreciate the purpose that lies behind the quest for all knowledge.
With wonderful word-play and quizzically creative calculations, The Phantom Tollbooth TYA will inspire audiences to approach learning with curiosity, enthusiasm and joy.
Click HERE for performance details and our full schedule of upcoming productions.
Questions? Call us at 831-775-0976.
See you at ARIEL!
Thank you for taking a few minutes to write in “ARIEL Theatrical” as your nominee for the “Best Local Theater Company” in the Monterey County Weekly annual contest.
Our commitment to the community by providing character-building theatre programs for youth and family-friendly performances makes ARIEL Theatrical a slam-dunk for the top prize!
Thank you for letting the world know that you are an ARIEL fan!
Click the button below to be directed to the Monterey County Weekly nomination page.
