La Porte Service League will present a new twist on what happens when a favorite children’s fairy tale ends with, “Little Red Riding Hood and the Magic Dragon.”
Nanda Danitschek is again directing and acting in the 82nd production by the local volunteer organization. The production is written by David and Julie Payne with music by Martha Vordy.
“And Little Red Riding Hood lived happily ever after,” is where Little Red Riding Hood and the Magic Dragon begins. But Little Red isn’t really happy! Through the song, Fairy Tale Lament, we learn that she has grown tired of her story. She dreads knowing that every time someone opens up her book she will be forced to relive, “the same old story over and over again.”
With the help of Toby, the magic dragon, Little Red sets off for new adventures. Along the way she meets, and sometimes becomes, other fairy tale characters like Rapunzel, Hansel, the prince and frog, and more. She manages to find excitement and sometimes danger, which ultimately leads her to the realization, “that anything is possible when you use your imagination.”
League members serving as actresses include: Little Red Riding Hood – Claudia Winter; Grandmother – Beth Mann; Woodsman/Hansel/Knight – Deb Ault; Toby the Dragon – Voice Lucy Vergo / Actor on Stage Ramona Komasinski; Witch 1– Sheryl Edwards; Witch 2 – Julie Long; Prince – Nanda Danitschek; Magic – Shelia Saunders, Rosie Flitter.
Plus, extra characters will join the cast for dance breaks and the final song.
As usual, the play is a visual treat, featuring colorful costumes sewed by members, as well as leagued designed and built sets that require multiple hours of design and building.
Lots of interactive fun will be incorporated this year. Danitschek says, “Many characters interact with the children. We’ll throw wubble balls out for the kids to bounce around, blow bubbles, and many characters enter and exit from the audience. The schools have the option to teach the children the chorus to our final song and the walls will be decorated with Hansel's "candied sweets" from the coloring pages that children can pick up in advance to color/decorate and return. It's less of a chance to put on a good show as it is an opportunity to engage the imagination and sensory development of the children!”
Danitschek adds that her direction is motivated by the shift toward technology, school budget cuts, and the fact that digital entertainment has become hard to compete with. “This makes me have to take into consideration the even shorter attention spans than in years past, and the need for high volume sensory input and interaction. It needs to be a show that is quick-paced, dynamic, funny, and keeps them so busy there is no hint that they are actually obligated to pay attention to anything.”
The play will be presented for grade schools and other community groups throughout La Porte County and the surrounding area through the week of February 1-5. However, the community and children of all ages are invited to attend the Sunday, January 31 dress rehearsal at 1 p.m. or the Saturday, February 6 closing performance at 9:30 a.m. Audience members are welcome to interact and show their excitement during the show. All are welcome to take pictures with cast members and get a closer look at the stage after these public performances.
Suggested donation is $1 for adults. Charge for the children who attend is still just 50 cents. If weather forces cancellation of one of the two public dates, that information will be shared on the League web site and its Facebook page.
Groups interested in reserving a time to attend the production during the school week may go online at www.laporteserviceleague.com/play.
The La Porte Service League play has been presented for the cultural enrichment of area students since the organization was founded by Hallie Fox in 1932. The annual production is a year-long project, and each of the active members is required to spend at least 15 hours working on the event.
This is just one of several ongoing volunteer services that the nonprofit organization contributes to the community. Other projects include providing dental health education presentations, eye screenings and tutoring for area students, bell ringing and meal preparation for Salvation Army, and deliveries for Meals on Wheels.