Lake Park High Theatre opens season with ‘Bedtime Stories’ for kids
The Lake Park High School Theatre Department kicks off its 2026-27 season Wednesday, Sept. 16, with the children’s play “Bedtime Stories (As Told by Our Dad) (Who Messed Them Up).”
Directed by English teacher Sara Keith and featuring 17 student actors and 20 student crew members, this fast-paced show by Ed Monk follows a flustered father as he hilariously improvises classic fairy tales for his three children.
The performance will be at 6 p.m. in the East Campus Dice Auditorium, 500 S. Medinah Road in Roselle. It is suitable for grades 1-8 and runs approximately 60 minutes. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Admission is $5 for age 13 or older, or free for senior citizens, children under 12 and Lake Park students.
The cast and crew will perform four additional daytime performances for students from area elementary and middle schools on Tuesday and Thursday, Sept. 15 and 17.
Keith answered some questions about the production.
Q. Why did you choose “Bedtime Stories (As Told by Our Dad) (Who Messed Them Up)” for Lake Park High School’s children’s play?
Telling stories is a tradition that many families follow when tucking their children into bed. Growing up, both my mom and dad would make up stories with my brother and me as the heroes in made-up adventures. My mother continued this tradition with my niece and nephew today. This play is a fun spin on fairy-tale stories, with both the kids and dad bringing their own interpretations.
Q. For those who aren’t familiar, please describe the plot.
In this chaotic and imaginative play, it is Dad’s (senior PJ Lavery) turn to tell his three rambunctious kids (seniors Olivia Barthel and Delila Garcia and junior Finn Rossio) their bedtime stories. But when he gets fuzzy on the details, the classics get creative.
A prince (senior Johnny Henderson) with a snoring problem spices up “The Princess and the Pea” (featuring senior Brianna Johnson, and freshmen Mia Barthel and Savannah Ander). “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” (featuring junior Daksh Dhiman, sophomore Johnnie Panzani and junior Ly Kaleta) cries “dinosaur” instead, and “Rumpelstiltskin” (featuring sophomore Allison Colucci and freshman Abel Rijesh) helps turn all that pesky gold into straw.
These fairy tales may seem familiar, but not the way Dad tells them!
Q. How many students are involved with the production?
The cast and crew have grown over the rehearsal process to almost 40 students working on the show as performers, running crew, set construction, costume crew, and props crew.
Q. What did you find most rewarding?
This play lets our high school actors explore their childhood by portraying younger and fairy-tale characters, while making the show accessible to children of all ages. The children’s play performs for area grade schools and middle schools.
Q. What were some of the best moments in putting together this production?
Meeting new people and making new friends is always the best moment in the rehearsal process. The little kids enjoyed being flexible and improvising the kids’ lines. The princesses love their princess dress costumes. The cast choreographed dances for the boy who cried dinosaur.
Q. What do you think audiences will enjoy most about this play?
The play is very funny, lighthearted, and humorous … and there’s a dancing dinosaur!
Q. What do some of the performers have to say about the show and their role in it?
Olivia Barthel-Katie (Child): “My favorite part of the show is the nostalgia I get from playing a child. This role makes me remember my favorite parts of my childhood.”
Daksh Dhiman (Wilbur): “My favorite part of the show is when I get to yell at Johnnie (Horace) and chase him with my shepherd’s stick.”
Ly Kaleta (Captain): “I love getting to play multiple different roles and be a character people can enjoy watching.”
Savannah Ander (Prime Minister): “Such a fun show and great cast for my freshman year! I loved exploring my range in the different roles I play, and thanks to everyone for a great show!”