Theatergoers of all ages invited to Hesston College production of “The House at Pooh Corner”

The House at Pooh Corner - April 27 to May 1
Posted on by Larry Bartel

Hesston College’s Theatre for Young Audiences program returns to Dyck Arboretum of the Plains April 27 to May 1 to stage “The House at Pooh Corner,” adapted for the stage by Bettye Knappe from the book by A.A. Milne.

“The House at Pooh Corner” finds Winnie the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger and the rest of the toys gathering in the Hundred Acre Wood. A “Mergency Meeting” has been called to order by the boy, Christopher Robin, who is being sent to a mysterious place called Education. Nobody knows what or where that is, and if the boy is sent there, what can his friends possibly do without him?

“This show is a wonderful mix of college students, Hesston College faculty and staff and community members all working together to create a sweet retelling of the classic Pooh story,” said Rachel Jantzi, director of theatre at Hesston College. “Audiences will experience a concept that is less Disney and truer to the era in which the story was written. Our costumer has done fantastic research to create looks specific to the late 1920s, while the cast is wonderfully capturing the qualities of Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and the rest of the Hundred Acre Wood family.

“The simple message of friendship and the beautiful backdrop of Dyck Arboretum will be enjoyed by absolutely everyone,” Janzti said.

“The House at Pooh Corner” features a run time of approximately 60 minutes, and attendees are invited to bring their own seating arrangements for the arboretum lawn. Curtains for the April 27 to 29 shows open at 6 p.m. Two 2 p.m. matinees are scheduled for April 30 and May 1. The shows will be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Tickets are $5 for children and students and $10 for adults. Tickets can be reserved online in advance hesston.edu/bookstore or by calling 620-327-8105.

The cast, in order of appearance, includes:

  • Rabbit – Phoebe Kolb, Milford, Neb.
  • Kanga – Celaine Worden (Hesston College faculty)
  • Roo – Rebecca Shuart (community member)
  • Pooh – Malaree Hood (Hesston College staff)
  • Piglet – Alexis Driscoll, Sedgwick, Kan.
  • Eeyore – Smilla Burklin, Karlsruhle, Germany
  • Christopher Robin – Destry Belshe (community member)
  • Owl – Heidi Hochstetler (Hesston College faculty)
  • Tigger – Josh Fleming, Raymore, Mo.
  • Christopher Robin (understudy) – Sienna Belshe (community member)