1986 Alisal Elementary School District sponsors Peter Pan at Sherwood Hall, inaugurating the Spring Conservatory Accelerated Program
1989 ARIEL Theatrical, Inc. receives its 501 (c) (3) non-profit status
1989 First one-week summer camp held at the Deseret Montessori School in Prunedale
1989 The Best Christmas Pageant Ever staged at the Fox Theatre as ARIEL’s first holiday production
1995 The Velveteen Rabbit staged at Salinas Women’s Club as first Spring Conservatory Intermediate Program
1997 Tikki Tikki Tembo staged at Salinas Women’s Club as first Spring Conservatory Beginning Program
1997 First Summer Conservatory Production, Wizard of Oz, staged at Sherwood Hall in collaboration with the City of Salinas Recreation Department
1999 Ford’s Department Store purchased as site for ARIEL’s own home
2001 At last–ARIEL takes up residence in the renovated and re-named Wilson Children’s Theatre
2002 New Spring and Fall programs are created, staging You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and the West Coast premier of Children’s Letters to God.
2005 Summer Conservatory Production moves to ARIEL’s home
2006 Basement remodeling creates a “green room,” actors’ rest rooms, classrooms, costume and prop storage
2007 The long-awaited tier-seating is installed, thanks to a very generous benefactor
2008 Late Spring and Fall Beginning programs added with The Three Piggy Opera and Three Nanny Goats Gruff
2009 Founder and Artistic Director, Gail Higginbotham, is honored by the Arts Council for Monterey County as Luminary Champion of the Arts
2009 Rehearsal room with mirrors and wooden floors completes the basement renovation
2010 ARIEL launches its new website, courtesy of TMD
2012 Building renamed the Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre (at Tom Wilson’s request)
2014 Collaboration with Reach Theatre, a program of Special Kids Crusade
2015 ARIEL launches The Play’s the Thing (so why not learn to act?), daytime classes