As February approaches, elementary school students from all over the region plan their trips to IU South Bend’s Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre. This year the production was Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. Five years ago, Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse made its first appearance at Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre. Now, with a new generation of IU South Bend students who will perform the play and a new generation of students excited to watch the performance, it seems like the right time to have this performance come to the main stage once again. Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse tells the story of a little mouse named Lilly. One day she brings her purple plastic purse to school for show and tell, but her teacher takes her purse away from her. Lilly is furious, but then feels remorse about her anger. “This story tells the tale of a young girl growing up and learning how to gain a better handle on her emotions and on how her actions affect those around her. It teaches children that they are able to feel what they feel but that those feelings shouldn’t be an excuse to hurt others. It also shows a loving adult figure (her teacher) who helps her find herself,” Taylor Jump, BFA Theatre, who plays Lilly, explains. Each year, an average of 5,000-8,000 local elementary students attend the Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre performances throughout the weeks the show is in production. For many of these students, this is the first live theatre performance they have ever attended. Some students travel more than an hour, and even stay after the show to eat lunch on campus. For Demarée Dufour-Noneman, Arts Production Manager, Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre is more than just one of the 60
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biggest productions of the year for the Raclin School of the Arts. Her mother, Michele Morgan-Dufour, developed the Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre program into what it is today. “We all feel so great to see that first or second grader just in awe of seeing live theatre on stage. The way that it has grown is wonderful too. Obviously, my mom was pretty involved with that as the Outreach Director here. She really grew it into the program that it is today, which is why it’s named after her. For me, it is particularly special and a great time every year to think of my mom and what she has done for the outreach community, what she gave, and how we are able to continue that,” Dufour-Noneman says. With passion for community arts, her mother crafted a program that promotes an amazing experience with live theatre for elementary students. In return, the children’s theatre production was named: Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre. “It’s incredibly special to me that this program is named after my mom. We came to that decision after my mom passed away. At the time, I was not part of the university. The staff of the Raclin School of the Arts came to my family and asked if this idea was something we would approve. It was hugely moving because of my mom’s dedication to the arts and children throughout her entire career. She was a kindhearted cheerleader for students and learners and artists in every aspect of her life. Speaking as her child and now a professional and an artist myself, I can tell you she was tireless in that dedication,” Dufour-Noneman says. For anyone who loves the arts, there was usually a moment during childhood when the arts drew them in. Whether that moment was at an art museum or at an orchestra concert, it was the moment of magic that sparked their imagination. Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre strives to provide that spark.
