Wheel of Fortune Live!: the business of theatre
At the beginning of MC’s winter break, an exciting show was set to take the Clayton Center of the Arts mainstage. Wheel of Fortune Live!, a travelling game show, was scheduled for Dec. 15, 2025 at 7:30 p.m., but just a few weeks before the event, it was cancelled.
The Clayton Center for the Arts website described this event as a replica stage show where “contestants are selected from the audience to go on stage and step into the game show itself. They’ll have a chance to spin, solve puzzles, and win fantastic prizes at every show, including trips to Paris or Hawaii or up to $10,000 cash.”
The CCA announced the cancellation of Wheel of Fortune Live! on social media on Dec. 8, and stated that all ticket holders for Wheel of Fortune Live! would receive a full refund for their purchase.
When the 2025-26 season events were announced over the summer, many people were anticipating this event, including MC students. Dante Roddy (‘26), who is also an event assistant for the CCA, expressed interest in this event, both as an audience member and an employee.
“I was pretty excited to work Wheel of Fortune. I thought it would be a cool show to work. It seemed like it would be a fun time,” Roddy said.
When contacted, the production and media staff of Wheel of Fortune Live! did not offer comment on the cancellation. However, Christy McDonald Slavick, interim executive director of the Clayton Center for the Arts, had some insight on the event.
“The decision to cancel was not made lightly. As ticket sales were reviewed closer to the performance date, it became clear that attendance would not reach a level that was financially sustainable,” she said.
The circumstances of this event’s cancellation provide a lesson about the business of theatre. Theatre is not just a creative art, but a web of finance, logistics and administration. As the cancellation of Wheel of Fortune Live! demonstrates, if an event does not seem like it will provide enough profit for either the show or the venue, adjustments may be made.
“While disappointing, this type of real-time evaluation is an important part of how performing arts centers operate as businesses. When the cancellation occurred, our team shifted quickly to notify patrons, process refunds, and adjust staff schedules,” Slavick said. “Our responsibility is to balance patron interests, community engagement, and fiscal responsibility so the Center can remain active and sustainable long-term.”
Wheel of Fortune Live! is not the only show that has been cancelled at the Clayton Center for the Arts. There are many reasons why it may be necessary for a show to be cancelled, such as the United States Marine Band performance from October 2025, cancelled due to the government shutdown, or any show cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Despite disappointment surrounding the cancellation, the situation highlights a lesson for students interested in theatre and the arts: live performance is a business enterprise. The Clayton Center for the Arts is a venue that professionally balances demand, finance and creativity. Slavick ends with a message for any patrons of the CCA:
“We are incredibly grateful to our audiences for their understanding and continued support.”
Wheel of Fortune Live! invites audience members to participate in the popular game show.
Photo courtesy of Wheel of Fortune Live – Mason Aschenbrenner/Terry Farmer.