There are more than just high school productions at the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center.
While the student productions are top notch, according to WCHS Assistant Principal Jennifer Shepherd, the PAC has brought in professional music groups, comedians and other artists in the past.
The first night of entertainment for the 2009-10 year will feature a professional theater company for the enjoyment of the whole family.
"If You Give a Pig a Pancake and Other Story Books" will be Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children 18 years old and younger. Tickets can be ordered in advance by calling 574-371-5040.
"It's a professional theater company, it's not high school kids," said Shepherd.
The production, an hour long, is based on the classic book series most Warsaw students have read. It does have some music featured in the show.
Warsaw elementary schools have been provided with some curriculum so they can prepare for the presentation if the teachers want. Shepherd said the focus has been on Warsaw's kindergarten and first-grade students. A study guide for parents is at www.theatreworks.org
"They perform all over the country. It just depends who books them. There are a lot of shows that they do," Shepherd said of Theatreworks USA.
A couple of the "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" shows will be held during the day for WCS kindergarten and first-graders. Shepherd said they encourage parents to come back for the 7 p.m. Oct. 26 show with their children so the whole family can enjoy it.
"If You Give a Pig a Pancake" features seven stories:
"Diary of a Worm": It's great to be a worm, but a wormy life also has its difficulties, like wiggling across a playground as human kids jump rope. Follow a worm's adventures as he writes about them all in his diary. Based on the book by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss, it was adapted by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez.
"Fluffy the Classroom Guinea Pig": When Fluffy enters a Best Pets Contest, a pesky flea threatens to derail the entire competition. Based on the book "Fluffy's Silly Summer" by Kate McMullan, it was adapted by Steven Lutvak and Robert L. Freedman.
"Horace & Morris but Mostly Dolores": Three mice promise to be best friends forever. But when Horace and Morris join the Mega-Mice Club for boys only, and Dolores becomes a Cheese Puff for girls only, what will happen to their friendship? Based on the book by James Howe, it was illustrated by Amy Walrod, and adapted by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.
"How I Became a Pirate": Young Jeremy Jacob would love to sail away and be a pirate. No vegetables, no manners, no bedtime and no rules at all. But he soon discovers that there's really no place like home. Based on the book by Melinda Long, with illustrations by David Shannon, it was adapted by Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin.
"If You Give a Pig a Pancake": A bossy little pig's demands frazzle a little girl in this lesson about cause and effect. Based on the book by Laura Numeroff, with illustrations by Felicia Bond, it was adapted by Anthony King and Scott Brown.
"Lilly's Big Day": Lilly's teacher is getting married, and she just knows she'll be a great flower girl, despite the fact that Mr. Slinger has already asked his niece to be the flower girl. When she suffers a bout of stage fright, it's up to Lilly to save the day. Based on the book by Kevin Henkes, it was adapted by Kevin Del Aguila and Brad Alexander.
"The Paper Bag Princess": When a ferocious dragon smashes Princess Elizabeth's castle, burns all her fancy clothes and kidnaps her beloved prince, she dons a paper bag and comes to the rescue. Based on the book by Robert Munsch, it was adapted by David Kirshenbaum.
One of the reasons "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" was booked, Shepherd said, was because it is children's programming. Children's programming is a good niche for the WCHS PAC. Also, she said the school corporation wants to provide the arts to all students in grades kindergarten through high school senior. "Pig a Pancake" brings in a professional group to get parents to introduce their young children to the arts.
On Jan. 29 at 7 p.m., the WCHS PAC will host another show by TheatreWorks USA, "Junie B. Jones." Tickets for that show are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 18 years old.Shepherd said they will be working with the local literacy foundation on that show to provide books to all the children who attend "Junie B. Jones." More information on that will be provided at a later date.
For the middle school and upper grades, there will be a science program Feb. 18. "Mad Science Presents CSI Live" exposes students to the science behind the television show "CSI." More information on that will be provided at a later date.
"All three are great family programs for our community," Shepherd said. "We can only tell if this is what the community wants by their attendance, so we encourage them to come and expose their kids to the arts. It's pretty interesting."
A big partner of the WCHS PAC has been Zimmer.
"Zimmer helped underwrite it. They've been our No. 1 supporter in the community, and we really appreciate their support," said Shepherd.
Target is the national tour sponsor of Theatreworks USA's production of "If You Give a Pig a Pancake" and "Junie B. Jones."
