Local Arts Take Flight:

In a unique collaboration blending history, storytelling, and live performance, the Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum and the Fayette County Community Theatre joined forces to present Wings of Their Own: Influential Women in Aviation on March 21 and 22 at the Museum in Schulenburg. The production highlighted the groundbreaking achievements of women aviators while offering audiences an immersive cultural experience that bridged education and the arts.

The production transformed the museum into a living stage, where history came to life among exhibits dedicated to the Stanzel brothers, Victor and Joe, and their model aircraft innovations and long-running business.

The show featured portrayals of pioneering women who helped shape aviation history, including Harriet Quimby, Bessie Coleman, Evelyn “Bobbi” Trout, Sophie Mühlstein, and Dorothy Schmidt. Performers included Jaci Elliott as Quimby, Rebecca Rowe as Coleman, Elora Patton as Trout, Janis Richardson as Mühlstein, and Kristen Graeter Holub as Schmidt, along with child performers Remi and Tucker Denham. Through monologues and characterdriven narratives, these figures stepped out of the past to share their struggles, triumphs, and lasting impact.

By staging the performance inside the Stanzel Museum, audiences experienced these stories within a meaningful historical context. “This production was about more than theater. It was about honoring voices that history often overlooked,” said Cynthia Fogleman, Stanzel Museum Director. “We are proud of the Stanzel brothers and the legacy they created, which continues through the Stanzel Family Foundation. Our mission is to carry forward their vision and passion for flying and innovation for future generations in the Schulenburg and Weimar communities.”

The event drew a diverse audience, including aviation enthusiasts, history lovers, and theatergoers, as well family members, friends, and neighbors connected to the legacies of Sophie Mühlstein and Dorothy Schmidt.

The Stanzel ModelAircraft Museum extends its appreciation to Fayette County Community Theatre Executive Director Heather Barthelme and her talented cast. Wings of Their Own exemplifies how community partnerships can create meaningful, multidimensional experiences that allow us all to soar. This collaboration reflects the power of local organizations working together to bring educational and artistic opportunities to the community.

For more information about the Stanzel Model Aircraft Museum, visit www.stanzelmuseum. org.