A Service League Pirate poses with a young fan who was kind enough to lend her treasured teddy for the set. (Service League photo)
Imagine the scores of local kids of all ages who have treasured memories of traveling by busload (or by foot) to see the LaPorte Service League’s annual play. Thankfully, that tradition continues — for the 81st year in 2015 — as the Service League again introduces the fun and thrill of live theater to LaPorte 
school-age kids. During the first week of February, Service League members will present “Pirates!” at the LaPorte High School Auditorium.
Thousands of schoolchildren from throughout LaPorte County, and even into Porter County, will attend the play this year at 9:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, Feb. 2-4, and at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5. In addition to grade schools, preschool classes, home-schooled students, and groups of younger children are welcome.
In addition, community members of all ages are welcome to attend the Sunday, Feb. 1, dress rehearsal at 1 p.m., or the Saturday, Feb. 7, closing performance at 9:30 a.m. Suggested donation is $1 for adults. Charge for the children who attend is still just 50 cents.
Educational packets, put together by Service League members Julie Pitman and Jan Yandt, will be sent home with teachers and students the day they attend the performance.
Directed by Nanda Danitschek and produced by Kathy Sommer, who wrote the song “Imagine the Possibilities” to close the play, “Pirates!” begins as two brothers, their ‘perfect’ sister and their awfully smelly nanny happen upon a cave rumored to be visited by pirates every 100 years. After the brothers discover they have come to the seashore on the very day of the dimwitted pirates’ and their malicious captain’s return, a spectacle of chase and folly ensues. It is an action-packed tale with memorable characters and a great message about working together against adversity toward a common goal.
The play features colorful costumes designed by Jan Martinsen and created by league members. The elaborate sets required multiple hours of design and building, as envisioned by Ramona Komasinski with support from some special husbands. A pirate ship is the centerpiece of this year’s action.
League members serving as actresses include: Miss Smedly – Ashlie Otis; Jennifer – Lisa Denger; Lee – Deb Ault; Dan the fisherboy – Shelia Saunders; Pirate Cap’n – Nanda Danitschek; Smee – Claudia Winter; Mike – Beth Mann; Ike – Julie Long; Tiny – Rosie Flitter; Smitty – Mary Ellen McCain.
The Feb. 1 performance for the public will include a Super Snack Sale of baked goods and snacks, and recognition of winners of the toy contest, in which kids lent their own stuffed animals to adorn the set. The Feb. 1 event will also feature free refreshments, photos with cast members, and hanging of a new banner depicting numerous Service League activities during the past eight decades. Also, kids who have submitted decorated fish will be able to admire their handiwork up close, posted in the “sea” around the perimeter of the auditorium.
The LaPorte Service League is an independent women’s organization that seeks to enrich the LaPorte area with community assistance programs, youth outreach and the arts. Members donate at least 50 hours of volunteer time each year in the organization’s many projects. Last year the membership contributed more than 4,700 hours. The organization was founded by Hallie Fox in 1932, and the first play, “Cinderella,” was performed in 1934. The annual play is a year-long project, and each of the active members is required to spend at least 15 hours working on the event.
Other league projects include providing dental education presentations and tutoring for area students, bell ringing for Salvation Army, and deliveries for Meals on Wheels.
For more information, visit www.laporteserviceleague.com and visit the group’s Facebook page.
