Where We Came From: Trinity Wheeler
I was born on April 7, 1980 in Tyler, Texas. Shortly after I was born, my parents divorced and my mother moved us to Henderson, Texas where I was raised. I attended Montgomery Elementary School then Northside Elementary School in Henderson. When 5th grade started, we moved back to Tyler and I was enrolled at All Saints Episcopal School.
Growing up in East Texas, country music was a major influence during my childhood. I remember locking myself in my room and singing the hits of the day at the top of my lungs. I had a special affinity for any Garth Brooks song. Also, I loved to put on shows for my family. My grandmother would make costumes and I would sing for anyone who would listen. I remember one special 4th of July when I did an outside show for family and friends during a party. I had just learned “Standing Outside the Fire”, a major Garth Brooks hit at the time, and had arranged for my cousins to shoot fireworks behind me to add spectacle to the number. This seemed like a good idea until one big rocket landed on the roof and almost burned the house down. I remember my grandfather and uncle running for the water hose. I always had the ability to add drama to any situation.
When I was 12 years old, I was asked to sing the National Anthem at a local rodeo and my singing career took its first real step. I continued singing at rodeos, fairs and country/western dancehalls well into my teens. WhenI was 16, a trip to London’s West End introduced me to musical theatre. While my love for country music remained strong, a deep passion for theatre began to develop. I appeared in numerous plays and musicals throughout high school at local theatres in East Texas.
After graduating, I auditioned and was cast as a featured singer/skater in the National Tour of A Holiday Spectacular on Ice. This was a major step for me and opened many doors to continue growing as an artist. My performing career continued with tours of Damn Yankees and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. While on the road, I became interested in the management and producing aspects of live theatre. As a Stage Manager, Company Manager and Associate Producer my credits include the National Tours of Oklahoma!, The Wedding Singer, The Producers, The Wizard of Oz, Titanic, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Crazy for You, West Side Story, Mame and Camelot. I’m currently the Stage Manager for Rent – The Broadway Tour starring original cast members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp.
Written by the late Jonathan Larson and directed by Michael Greif, Rent opened at Broadway’s Nederlander Theatre on April 29, 1996, following a sold-out, extended limited engagement at Off-Broadway’s New York Theatre Workshop. The musical went on to win every major best musical award, including the Tony Award as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Larson did not live to see the show’s success. He died of an undiagnosed heart ailment — later determined to be Marfan Syndrome — on the eve of the musical’s Off-Broadway debut. Working on Rent has been amazing especially since members of the original company are involved. While my love for theatre is strong, I also have another equally important love – health and fitness.
My involvement in health and fitness came as a surprise to me. Since I was a child, my main enjoyment in life has been entertaining people. From my early years in country music to 10 years with various Broadway touring productions as a performer and stage manager, entertainment defined me. While on tour and juggling busy performance schedules, maintaining a healthy lifestyle proved challenging. For years, I would sleep late, chomp on pizza after the show, stay out all night in the local dives and my main source of exercise was lifting the remote to change the TV channel. I was having a good time but my body was slowing unraveling.
While on tour in 2008, I received news from home that my best friend had passed away in a tragic car accident. This took an immediate toll on me and dealing with his loss seemed incomprehensible. I started to look at my own life and quickly realized how much I took it for granted by not taking care of myself physically despite my busy schedule. Losing him so unexpectedly showed me that each day is a gift and I could no longer live my life being complacent about my health. A colleague on tour introduced me to the gym and a fire was lit inside of me. From that day forward, working out and eating right has defined the “new” me. While I enjoyed the obvious physical changes to my body, the physiological rewards were astounding. My confidence and determination skyrocketed and continues to do so today. I learned that working out makes you realize your current limitations. As you grow stronger, barriers are broken and you surpass the limitations that once stood in the way. Last year, I got my personal training certification and it’s my goal to help others improve their quality of life through health and fitness. Whether the goal is to lose a few pounds or totally reshape your body, anything is possible with a little sweat and a lot of determination. In early 2010, I will launch a new web site, Trinity Wheeler Fitness, that will be aimed at staying fit while you travel. For business travelers or performers on tour, the site will include gym reviews from across the country, a fitness blog and inspirational stories of people from all backgrounds who have overcome challenges through health and fitness.
When not on the road with a show, I live in Fort Lauderdale, FL. I love the beach and the year-round warm weather. When Rent closes in February, I will spend the summer in Lauderdale prior to another tour next fall. In March, I will return to East Texas to direct a very special event. 12 years ago, I directed A Piece of My Heart at Henderson Civic Theatre in Henderson. The show proved to be a major success for the theatre and was an incredible experience. The cast was exceptional and a strong bond was formed between us while working on the project. To this day I have never forgotten the times we shared together. A Piece of My Heart is a powerful, true drama of six women who went to Vietnam – five nurses and a country-western singer booked by an unscrupulous agent to entertain the troops. The play portrays each young woman before, during and after her tour in the war-torn jungle and ends as each leaves a personal token at The Wall in Washington. The entire original cast has agreed to come backand do a staged reading of the piece as a fundraiser for Henderson Civic Theatre. I am so excited to direct the show again and it is sure to be an unforgettable experience. For more information, please contact Henderson Civic Theatre.
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