By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Thursday night, the Hays Arts Council is set to present the Wichita Children's Theatre's production of Alice in Wonderland at 7 p.m. in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.
The annual production, that brings the professional group to Hays for a day allows students to interact and enjoy the classic story.
"We thought it would be a good night," said Hays Arts Council Executive Director Brenda Meder. "We've got Wichita Children's Theatre, making their regular one-day ... Hays visit.
"These productions are only about 45 minutes, we have a family theater production of 'Alice in Wonderland,' a delightful stage adaptation. You know, the classic story of a little girl with the imagination ends up down the rabbit hole, meeting the White Rabbit, the caterpillar, the Dormouse, and then being invited by the Mad Hatter, to a tea party with the crazy Queen of Hearts.
Along with the production Thursday night, students had the opportunity to see the performance throughout the day.
"A number of them will be attending a production of Alice during the day, I believe theirs is in the afternoon," Meder said. "And we've also got a production from which Children's Theatre of Schoolhouse Rock live for fourth grade."
And while typically tickets are sold at a fraction of their typical cost, thanks to the council, this year she said thanks to a special donation, this year the event is free.
"Ordinarily, even though these companies cost is quite a bit of money, through different underwriting and things and just our desire to reach out and because we also have the other things paid for during the work underwritten during the day, our admission fee for the family productions has always been very minimal," Meder said.
She said typically the council spends $1000's and $1000's for the company to be here that day, but due to the incredible generosity of a memorial gift given in the name of Aletha Denning, this year will be free for all who attend."
Meder said typically donations similar to Denning's would be added into a general budget line, but this time was different.
"We decided that a good way to share this with the larger community instead of just tucking it into a general budget was to have admission be free that night," she said. "When I mentioned it to her family, they just, they just were thrilled you know because often those things like I said just get tucked into a general budget."
"So it's easy. Nobody's got to fumble with money. Nobody's got to fumble with tickets. Just come and enjoy this wonderful production. That is a gift on behalf of the Hays Arts Council, and the memorial of Aletha Denning."