06/12/2026
A warm welcome from Oddfellows’ new Executive Director!
Dear Oddfellows Community,
I am writing to you during my first weeks here at Oddfellows Playhouse, feeling a profound sense of gratitude, excitement, and responsibility.
Stepping into this role after Dic Wheeler’s years of dedicated leadership is incredibly humbling. Every day is an opportunity to learn about this amazing place. I have been deeply struck by the immense affection, care, and history that holds this organization together. Whether you are a parent, an alum, a donor, or an avid audience member, you are the reason this beautiful mission survives and thrives. Fiercely believing that young people need a place like Oddfellows is what unites all of us in this community, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your vital support.
I chose to come to Oddfellows because—as a parent, an educator, and a theatre artist—I believe in the transformative power of theater for young people. The true heartbeat of this place comes from you—the community that ensures we remain a safe, creative space where no child is ever turned away due to an inability to pay.
As you know we are in the midst of our annual appeal. To keep the promise alive that no child is turned away and to ensure our programs remain accessible to every single young person who walks through our doors, I invite you to make a gift to our Annual Spring Appeal today.
The reality of modern philanthropy is that institutional grants and state-level funding have become increasingly volatile and competitive nationwide. As traditional funding streams shift, community-backed support is no longer just a bonus—it is our lifeline. We rely directly on your generosity to bridge the gap, fund financial aid, sustain our vibrant programming, and keep our ticket prices affordable for everyone.
We are already diving into an incredibly busy season, and your support keeps these wheels turning:
Just Past: We had a fantastic time celebrating at the Pride Parade last weekend!
This Week: Come see ROVERandom, a wonderful mini-production directed and created by our own Dan Schmidt, based on JRR Tolkien's short story. It plays this Thursday and Friday at 7:00 PM at the theater—please attend if you can!
Just Around the Corner: The spectacular 38th Annual Children's Circus of Middletown is just weeks away from starting.
Seeing the creativity filling this space inspires me every day. I am fully committed to honoring the rich history of this theater while guiding it into its next exciting chapter.
As I settle in, I would love to learn more about your history with Oddfellows and what this place means to you and your family. Please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] if you'd like to introduce yourself, or let me know if you'd ever like to sit down for a coffee, a Zoom chat, or a conversation right here at the theater. If you couldn't guess from the photo, the Executive Director’s office is the one that says, “Head Clown” on the door.
I look forward to meeting you at our upcoming shows and building our future together. Thank you for your extraordinary generosity, and thank you for welcoming me so warmly into this community.
With sincere gratitude,
Wesley Broulik, MFA | Executive Director
(he/him)
Oddfellows Playhouse
[email protected]
Please Donate to the Annual Appeal
https://oddfellows.app.neoncrm.com/campaigns/2026-spring-appeal
