Walton Performing Arts Center Home

A young actor takes flight with the help of rigging at the Walton in the Marion CSA Theatre Company production of "Matilda" in 2021.

Drama becomes even more dramatic when flight rigging is play at the Walton! Seen here is CSA Theatre Company's production of Matilda in 2021.

photo - Mary Poppins takes flight at the Walton

Mary Poppins takes flight with CSA's Theatre compANY in 2022.

photo: CSA's Sweeney Todd

CSA Theatre compANY presents Sweeney Todd on the Walton stage in 2024.

Art is displayed on the walls of the Walton Center lobby for the All-City Art Show in 2018.

The Walton is also host to the annual All-City Art Show and many other school performances and events. 

photo: CSA's Nemo Jr. 2024

CSA Theatre compANY presents Nemo Jr. on the Walton stage in 2024.

Photo: MHS Black History Club presents The Wiz

The MHS Black History Club presents The Wiz in February 2025.

photo: CSA Theatre compANY's Frozen Jr. 2022

CSA Theatre compANY presents Frozen Jr. on the Walton stage in 2023.

photo: MHS Drama presents a play in the Walton's Little Theatre

The MHS Drama Club presents The Mousetrap in the Walton's Little Theatre in October 2024.

Five tap dancers strike a pose in Marion CSA's iDance show on the mainstage at the Walton

Marion CSA's iShow weekend always dazzles on the mainstage at the Walton!

Welcome to our website!

Welcome to the online home for the Walton Performing Arts Center at Marion High School! From information about upcoming shows, to rental information and more, we will use this space to keep our community up to date! We know that community connection is vital to the continued success of our beautiful arts center. We hope you'll find this site easy to use! 
promo graphic - MCS All-City Art Show 2025
promo graphic - MCS art show music performances 2025
promo graphic - MHS spring band concert 2025

Coming up at the Walton

- Marion Community Schools All-City Art Show, May 16-17, (click for details) - includes music and dance performances on 5/17 
 
- Marion High School band concert, 5:30 p.m. May 17 (click for details)
 
- Marion Community School of the Arts iShow weekend, June 6-7 (click for details from CSA)

School News

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The exterior of the Walton Performing Arts Center
Kids fill the audience in the main auditorium at the Walton.

Who we are

The Walton Performing Arts Center is on the campus of Marion High School in Marion, Indiana. It includes the main stage in a beautiful 1,500-seat auditorium, as well as a smaller performance space, the Little Theater. 
 
The Walton's main stage plays host to many events every year, showcasing both school and community groups, along with regional and traveling acts and shows. The Little Theater hosts primarily school events, although outside reservation requests are accepted when possible.
 
The Walton Center is named after F. Ritchie Walton, a longtime music teacher at MHS and choral innovator who started one of the first high school show choirs in the nation in 1966. He also directed musical theater at Marion High School. He had high standards and expectations for his students, and he provided an amazing platform for many young musicians and artists to build on throughout their lives. The excitement he created around the music and theater programs at Marion High School left quite a legacy, so it is fitting that Marion Community Schools named this outstanding venue after him!

Calendar

All-City Art Show

Time: 11 AM – 6 PM
Location: Marion High School (enter at Walton Center)
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Theater, song, dance, and more!

The Von Trapp children speak with Maria in the CSA's Civic Theatre production of "The Sound of Music" on the main stage at the Walton in summer 2022
Marion High School's Drama Club brought "Mame" to life on the Walton main stage in October 2022.
Actors mourn the death of Beth March in Marion CSA Theatre Company's production of "Little Women" on the main stage at the Walton in November 2020.
CSA's Civic Theatre brought James and the Giant Peach to the Walton's main stage in summer 2023.
photo - CSA's Sweeney Todd
photo: CSA's Frozen Jr. - Olaf