The "Lititz Resident Takes A Spin On "Wheel Of Fortune"

It was an ordinary day.  Reading my morning Lancaster Newspaper when I came across a photograph of a fellow named JP Welliver who lives in the nearby town of Lititz, Pennsylvania.  Seems that JP appeared on the "Wheel of Fortune" show on Wednesday, June 5.  The newspaper reported that while growing up, JP watched "Wheel of Fortune" with his family every evening.  

JP Welliver

He became obsessed over the show's cohost Vanna White and played the franchise's board games.  He even learned to spell with the help of the show's daily challenges.  After decades of admiration, Welliver finally got his chance to spin the giant wheel himself.  He appeared as a contestant on an episode of "Wheel of Fortune," which aired locally at 7 p.m., June 5.  Welliver taped with host Pat Sajak during the television personality's final week of filming with the show......after over 40 years.  

Saga's last episode aired Friday, June 7.  JP, 36, works primarily as an account manager for the Lititz-based company WebstaurantStore.  He's also involved in the local arts scene; he works as one of the building managers for the Ephrata Performing Arts Center and often appears in local theatrical productions.   Welliver is an ensemble member of EPCA's upcoming production of "Cabaret." Shows begin July 25 and end August 10.  He is also the musical director for St. Paul Lutheran Church in Penryn, Pa.  JP first auditioned for the show about 10 years ago.  Since then, he has sent audition videos with expected silence.  Welliver sent a final application during 2020, then heard noting for three years.  He finally got a callback audition in April 2023.  He competed remotely in a pool of possible contestants in a simulation of the game, solving four sets of 16 challenge puzzles.  Soon after, he was invited to Los Angeles to live our his childhood dream.. The episode was taped earlier this spring.  Welliver aspired to be on the show after spending years rooting for contestants at home.  He was persistent in his pursuit of an audition.  "When you're doing that on your own, it's like...I can be up there.  I want to do it," Welliver said.  To prepare for tapping, he watched old episodes of "Wheel of Fortune" on Pluto TV and stayed sharp with the help of a desk calendar in his office containing daily puzzles.  When the day finally arrived, he was excited.  "It was super fun, super surreal," he said.  "It's the quickest 22 minutes of your life.  You're up there, and it's done so quickly."  While the experience went quickly, it's not one Welliver will soon forget.  "If you have a childhood dream," Welliver said, "regardless of whether it's being on "Wheel of Fortune' - do not give up on that."  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.