Manheim Township Performing Arts (MTPA) participants past and present are invited to attend a celebrate of the retirement of Mark and Beth Wagner, who directed MTPA from 1987 to 2020. Mark also taught music, choir and music electives at Manheim Township High School during those years.

The celebration, "The Final Curtain Call," will take place at the Ware Center, 42 N. Prince St., Lancaster, on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m. The program will feature musical numbers from past shows as well as video tributes. Light dessert refreshments will be available.

This event was originally planned to occur just before the COVID shutdown and was intended to be centered on the Wagners' last show, "Mamma Mia!" They were not able to share that show with the public due to the pandemic. The celebration has been reimagined by a group of MTPA alumni spanning decades. MTPA students and alumni are invited to recognize the impact the Wagners have had on their lives.

"They helped me to become a good ensemble member," said Brian Ratcliffe, Class of 2007, who spent several years as a professional actor. "Being part of an ensemble means honoring and valuing the contributions of each person involved with a production, onstage and backstage, instead of seeking the spotlight for the sake of your own ego." He noted that he wants the Wagners to know "how profound their impact was and how many lives they've changed."

Drigan Lee referred to the Wagners as "extraordinarily rare, humble heroes who quietly elevated their community for decades." "I would not be working in the film industry without them. I owe my career in the arts to the two of them," added Lee, who is now a documentary film editor. "The Wagners taught me how to engage in any creative process with integrity. I've used their lessons about passion, honesty, and work ethic on every film I have worked on and ever will work on."

Michael Thatcher, Class of 2005, echoed Lee's sentiment. "The Wagners are the single greatest reason I'm making a living as an actor in New York City," he said. "They believed in my talent before anyone else. ... They taught me the value of collaboration and the importance of knowing when to lead and when to listen to others." When Thatcher made his Broadway debut in 2018 with "The Play That Goes Wrong," the Wagners were in attendance. "It was such a special moment," he recalled.

Erin Ritter, Class of 2004, emphasized the Wagners' influence, as well. "The time, guidance, and wisdom that the Wagners shared with each student produced such a high-caliber show year after year," she noted. "I want them to close this chapter in their lives knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that it mattered - that those moments we all shared in MTPA are not only remembered, but cherished."

"Mark and Beth ... taught me the valuable lesson of how to fail and face rejection with grace," noted Rebecca Rutt, Class of 2007. "(They) modeled for us that everyone had value and that the group was greater than the sum of its parts." She added, "I hope that this event and celebration honoring them gives Mark and Beth just a glimpse of the lasting impact their sacrificial leadership has made and the legacy that will continue living on for years to come."

For information on purchasing tickets or donating toward gifts, email wagnersfinalcurtaincall@gmail.com.