09/05/2026
2026 Children’s Christmas Production
Welcome! We’re glad you chose to take a look at our page or website or otherwise take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the Prairie Arts Council and Prairie Arts Council Children’s Theater opportunities.
We are excited to be able to resume providing the young people of our community with opportunities to grow as citizens and as performers with this year’s Christmas Show: “Wonderland.” From 1998 to 2018, the Gorenz family produced, directed, and acted in shows on the PAC stage. After a hiatus, Rachel Gorenz-Johnson is continuing this theatrical tradition with a resumption of PAC’s Children’s Christmas Musicals.
Auditions for this year’s PAC Children’s Christmas Musical are set for Tuesday, September 15 at 6:30 pm and Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at Open Prairie United Church of Christ, 25 East Marion Street, Princeton, IL (children may audition either time). The show will be performed at the Prairie Arts Center the weekend of December 4-6, 2026. Auditions are open to children in 3rd-8th grades; select 2nd graders may be cast as well, so second graders with a strong desire to perform and an ability to follow direction are welcome to audition. Children will be asked to sing “Jingle Bells” and “America the Beautiful;” those interested in a speaking role will be provided with a scene selection at the audition. Children who cannot audition at the above times may contact the director to make alternative arrangements.
This year’s Christmas show, Wonderland, by local playwright Rachel E. Gorenz-Johnson, was written specifically for PAC’s young actors and was first performed on the PAC stage in 2005 and reprised in 2013. The show is a delightful tale about three children who are transported to Wonderland, a place in a storybook that their mother has read to them. Although Wonderland is supposed to be presided over by the beautiful Christmas Angel, the children discover that the Angel is no longer in Wonderland, and the country has been taken over by the Angel’s wicked cousin, Nastina, who desires to get rid of Christmas, and with it, all happiness. The children are able to remember the true values of Christmas: Peace on Earth, Joy in the World, and family. In doing so, they help to banish the evil queen and reinstate Good Will to All in Wonderland before returning home with a deeper understanding of what Christmas should mean to them.
You will be able to learn about “Wonderland” at auditions. It features a chorus and both singing and speaking roles. Rehearsals will take place weekday evenings, Saturday mornings, and Sunday afternoons (approximately 1-2 weeknights in addition to the weekend for cast members with speaking roles; everyone with a singing role needs to be available for the Sunday afternoon music rehearsals). We make every effort to work around everyone’s busy schedules, but we do ask that children with conflicts alternate commitments so that they do not consistently miss play practice. During the last 2 weeks before the show, the rehearsal schedule increases and attendance is required.
Our philosophy:
The goal of the Prairie Arts Council is to promote the ARTS for the entire community. Our goal in directing PAC theater productions is to offer options for music and theater activities to our youth, particularly for those who may not have an interest or aptitude for sports. In so doing, we strive to build character, to teach skills, and, just as important, to have fun.
Casting:
“Wonderland” features a large cast, so we will need plenty of young actors to audition!
Show dates:
December 4-6, 2026. We will offer Friday and Saturday night performances as well as a Sunday matinee.
Rehearsals:
In the past, we have tried to schedule rehearsals around your child’s schedule. We make every effort to work around the kids’ schedules, but as kids get busier, this becomes increasingly difficult. Expect your child to have 2-4 rehearsals per week if he/she has a speaking role. Chorus members will generally be asked to come only to music rehearsals (Sundays) for the first month or so.
Communication:
Our primary method of communication with the cast for rehearsal and general information is Facebook. If you are not on Facebook or if your family does not check Facebook regularly, please find a friend or neighbor who will contact you with announcements. If the parents live apart, please consider providing both of their email addresses to us, so that both parents can be made aware of schedule changes, expectations, requests for volunteers, etc. This is particularly helpful if children spend some weekends or evenings with the non-custodial parent.
Cast list
Will be posted on the Prairie Arts Council page and website.
Scripts
Will be provided at the cast read through (this helps us to teach proper pronunciation and inflection during the initial read through).
Expectations
Attendance at rehearsals is very important. We all have busy lives, and many of our children are booked in numerous activities. Unfortunately, everyone suffers if anyone is missing from a rehearsal, so we ask that you make this a priority. If your child has conflicting activities, we ask that you spread the times you must miss an activity among the various activities rather than have your child miss play practice and attend the other activity on a consistent basis. The last two weeks of rehearsals is very important, so we ask that your child not miss rehearsals during that time. Extra rehearsals are added at that time, particularly the week before the show. The week of Thanksgiving will have only a limited rehearsal schedule.
Parental involvement is crucial. Parents are expected to be responsible for their child’s attendance and for calling or texting us if your child is ill or otherwise cannot be there. We also require that parents participate in production aspects of the show: chaperone several rehearsals and shows, provide refreshments for intermission, sell tickets, write press releases, put up posters, organize the cast party, arrange for T shirts and videotaping, type the programs and cast bios, assist with set construction, painting, costumes, and props, and assist with strike (tear down of set and PAC clean up). Detailed instructions are available, so these tasks are not as overwhelming as they may appear; of course, many hands make light work!
Critical Expectations of cast members
We strive to create a safe, wholesome environment for your children. We ask that they behave at all times with kindness, support, encouragement, and acceptance of all cast members and volunteers.
We ask that cast members memorize their lines in first 2 weeks (this is not as difficult for children as you might imagine).
We also want to emphasize the importance of cast members and families supporting PAC productions by volunteering and coming to see shows that you are not in as well as gallery exhibitions! No one likes to perform to an empty auditorium, so please remember to come to see other productions here at PAC. This is not an idle expectation. PAC cannot continue to produce community theater shows without a volunteer base and an audience! Please support community theater in Bureau County by coming to our shows, concerts, and revues.
Costs
There is no mandatory cost involved in participating in our shows. However, the PAC board has asked that parents become members of PAC if their child is cast in the show. PAC exists only because of the hard work of many volunteers. Joining PAC is a demonstration of support and appreciation for the opportunities that this organization is providing for the children of our community.
Membership expenses:
Family: $35
Individual: $25
Student: $15
(Membership requirement may be waived due to financial hardship. Please talk to the Director)
There are some optional expenses: T shirts, video of the show, snacks for long rehearsals, and cast party.
Auditions
Auditions are open to children in 3rd-8th grades, although select 2nd graders may be cast, so second graders with a strong desire to perform and an ability to follow direction are welcome to audition. A parent is REQUIRED to attend the auditions unless prior arrangements are made with the Directors. If a parent/guardian does not come to the audition, their child will not be allowed to audition.
If you have any special needs accommodations, please contact us ahead of time at 815-876-6284 or [email protected] so that we can make appropriate adaptations.
We look forward to seeing you!
Rachel Gorenz-Johnson
Director
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