During the first week of February, students all over Northwest Indiana came to La Porte High School to see the La Porte Service League’s 83rd annual play. It is a tradition that began in 1934 as a way to inspire young minds. Children are the future, and projects like these - where different organizations unite to help them grow - show them what it means to be a community.
"Little Red Riding Hood and the Magic Dragon" is a story about a young girl who is tired of her life story and longs for adventure. By the end of the tale she realizes the power of imagination and the beauty of the life she already has.
“[Imagination] is something that is invaluable,” said actress and League member Ramona Komasinski, who played the role of Toby the Magic Dragon. “When they play, to watch them pretend and see the things they come up with, it is remarkable. That is how you get your engineers, your artists and your brilliant minds.”
Director Nanda Danitschek added that, “when their imaginations are nurtured they grow to be adults that can think outside the box.”
Each year they choose a play that teaches a lesson. It is important to the League members to reach the children. They recognize that they have to change their approach as society changes. Danitschek was determined that her production would interact with the audience and provide sensory experiences.
“I think it is really important,” she explained, “Especially today, because kids are so overly stimulated. It takes a lot to engage them. If they come here and it’s 4-D it helps them relax.”
Creating and performing a play takes a lot of work from everyone involved. This year took a combined 2,000 hours, all of them volunteered by the members of the Service League. Each actress put in a minimum of 90 hours to do her part. They designed sets, made costumes, and memorized songs and dances.
They also provide an educational packets for the schools attending well in advance of the performance. Members Julie Pitman and Jen Ream provide lesson plans and projects for the teachers to use on their smart boards in order to get the kids more involved with and excited about the play. They can learn the music scores, or help with decorations. They also provide vocabulary words that students in younger grades may not know.
“I am all about enrichment,” said Claudia Winter, the actress who donned a cape for her role as Little Red. “Some of these children would otherwise never have had the opportunity to see a live performance.”
Danitschek agreed, and added: “They don’t see a lot of community action. So when the schools come together for this it shows community growth.”
While the play is always hosted in La Porte, students from other school systems are invited to come see it. Westville, Valparaiso, and even private schools and daycares all participate. As a thank you to the La Porte High School for donating its auditorium, the Service League leaves behind a piece of equipment every year. For the 2016 present they are hoping to donate a new sound system. It is hard to update tech equipment like that, since older versions are often not compatible with the newer models. The Service League is grateful to the school system though and wants to help with this project.
On the Saturday after their school performances they will have one last showing of Little Red Riding Hood and the Magic Dragon, open to the public.