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By the time Tony Award-winning actress Faith Prince took the stage Saturday night, the audience already had been thoroughly entertained.
The Warsaw Community High School percussionists performed a number with bouncing basketballs, the select chorale sang "Shenandoah" and "This Is It!" and the thespian troupe performed scenes from "You Can't Take It With You" and "Our Town."
But that wasn't all of the first act of the WCHS Performing Arts Center Gala.
Guest percussion soloist Jeff Queen performed "Double Flag" with a set of drums. Queen is an original cast member and solo performer of the Tony and Emmy award-winning Broadway Show "Blast." He has appeared on numerous television shows, including "The Late Show with David Letterman," The Kennedy Center Honors 2000 and the 2001 NBA All-Star Game.
The WCHS hip-hop dance team broke it down with "Catchafire," while the WCHS Tiger Pride performed "Things Unseen" from the stage, the balcony and everywhere inbetween.
Several people spoke between the acts as part of the Gala ceremonies.
WCHS Principal Dr. Jennifer Brumfield said the PAC has been in the making for the past 20 years. When the high school originally was conceived, the theater had to be nixed because of costs. Over the years, many students have wanted to see the theater be built, Brumfield said.
"I am so proud of the fact that our community has come together to put the last piece together" for our students, she said. The PAC took about three years to plan and there were many involved who deserved thanks, she said.
Among those she thanked was Vice Principal Jennifer Shepherd, who she presented flowers to as well for all her work in putting the Gala together.
Later during the Gala, Shepherd said, "This is a world-class performing arts center and it's in our town."
Act II of the Gala started with a skit where students auditioned for a role in the musical "Guys and Dolls," which the high school is performing this fall. Prince, who won her Tony for her role in the Broadway show, was the sixth person to audition and then began her show for the night.
Between each of her numbers, Prince told the audience about how she got her start at the Wagon Wheel Theatre to where she is today. She was accompanied on the piano by Alex Rybeck.
Guest producer was K Williams of SiG Productions, of Washington, D.C. Williams was the consultant for the WCHS PAC. Martha Mountain provided lighting design and is an associate of Williams. Mountain teaches lighting design at George Mason University, and has designed for theater, opera, dance and many special events.
Before Prince's encore number, Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins presented her with the key to the city and told her the lights would always be on for her.
"I'm going to put this next to my Tony," Prince said.
According to an e-mail from Shepherd this morning, 489 tickets were sold for the event.
