About PPT

Mission Statement | Evolution | Production History

Our Mission

Pec Playhouse Theatre exists as an educational and charitable organization dedicated to the study, practice, and production of theatre and the related arts. We strive to provide quality theatre programs and related events for the greater enjoyment and appreciation of the people of Pecatonica, its surrounding communities, and the general public. We provide opportunities and encouragement to anyone having an active interest in theatre and related arts, including students and other young people, to use their talents, energies and ideas in the accomplishment of our goals.

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Pec Playhouse Theatre - Evolution

Pecatonica is a quiet little town nestled in the beautiful countryside of Northern Illinois, a wonderful place to visit annual events, browse the antique shops and other local stores, away from the big city. Just off of U.S. Highway 20, Pecatonica is easily accessible via many routes.

Pec Playhouse Theatre (PPT) was formed in 1991 by a group of Pecatonica High School students and recent graduates who wanted to continue performing in theater after high school. With the help of some supportive adults, PPT was organized and produced its first show, Out of the Frying Pan. This show was funded entirely by membership dues and proceeds from a car wash. In these early years, shows were performed mostly at Pecatonica High School and occasionally at the American Legion Hall. By 1994, PPT began producing summer musicals with The Wizard of Oz, which marked a new attendance record. In the summer of 1995, PPT mentored the newly-formed Byron Civic Theatre in presenting its first production, Annie Get Your Gun. PPT was incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in 1997. In 1999, PPT became a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, making most contributions to PPT tax-deductible.

Meanwhile, Pecatonica High School ended its theater program. So, in 1998, PPT produced You Can’t Take It With You as the first of what was to become an annual main-stage show featuring high school students. As time and space at the high school became increasingly scarce, PPT entered into an agreement in 1998 with the Pecatonica Heritage Museum to use space in their building complex. This arrangement allowed Pec Playhouse to expand their schedule to five shows per year. As the years went by, theater seats, air conditioning, heating, lights, sound equipment, and bathrooms were added to the facility. With the help of 2 amazing contributors, Pecatonica Pharmacy and George Anderson, and the support of German American State Bank, PPT was able to purchase the building in late 2004. In 2007 the donation of newer, more comfortable theater seats from a Rockford Memorial Hospital made the PPT theater experience even more enjoyable for our patrons. Since that time, volunteers and friends of PPT continue to work to improve the building and the theater - one amazing project being the complete remodeling of the former doctor's apartment upstairs into a wonderful dressing and make-up area.

We’re grateful to all of our friends and volunteers who have donated their time and energy over the years, and to our patrons and donors who keep us going.

We are excited about the future of Pec Playhouse, and hope you’ll want to be a part!

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Pec Playhouse Theatre - Production History

Year	Image	Production	Performances
1991		Out of the Frying Pan	Aug. 9-10, 1991
1992		Theatre Workshops	Jan.-Feb.
		An Actor's Nightmare/Comedy Improv	March 6-8, 1992
		Barefoot in the Park	April 23-24, 1992
		Lo & Behold	July 17-18, 1992
		Arsenic & Old Lace (w/PHS)	Nov. 6-7, 1992
1993		Twelve Angry Jurors	July 23-24, 1993
		Our Town	Oct. 15-16, 1993
		The Holiday Show	Dec. 5, 1993
1994		The Wizard of Oz	July 8-10 & 15-16, 1994
1995		Annie Get Your Gun (w/Byron Civic Theatre)	Aug. 11-13 & 18-19, 1995
1996		The Music Man	June 26-29, 1996
1997		Fiddler on the Roof	May 9-11 & 16-17, 1997
1998		Theatre Workshops	Jan.-Feb.
		Love Letters	Feb. 13 & 14, 1998
		You Can't Take it With You (w/PHS)	April 24-26, 1998
		Harvey	July 17-19, 1998
		Storytelling Night	Oct. 31, 1998
		A Christmas Carol	Dec. 4-6 & 11-13, 1998
1999		Arsenic & Old Lace (w/PHS)	April 22-25, 1999
		Children's Theatre Camp	June 7-11, 1999
		Oklahoma	Aug. 6-8 & 13-15, 1999
		On Golden Pond	Oct. 22-24 & 29-31, 1999
		My Three Angels	Dec. 3-5 & 10-12, 1999
2000		The Hound of the Baskervilles (w/PHS)	April 6-9, 2000
		Children's Theatre Camp	June 5-9, 2000
		Family Man	June 16-18 & 23-25, 2000
		My Fair Lady	Aug. 4-6 & 11-13, 2000
		It's a Wonderful Life	Nov. 3-5 & 10-12, 2000
2001		A Walk in the Woods	Feb. 16-18 & 23-25, 2001
		Don't Drink the Water (w/PHS)	April 5-7, 2001
		Children's Theatre Camp	June 4-8, 2001
		Clue - The Musical	June 15-17 & 22-24, 2001
		Deadwood Dick (The Game of Gold)	Aug. 3-5 & 10-12, 2001
		Deathtrap	Nov. 2-4 & 9-11, 2001
2002		The Glass Menagerie	Feb. 15-17 & 22-24, 2002
		Madam's Been Murdered ... Tea Will Be Late (w/PHS)	April 18-21, 2002
		Children's Theatre Camp	June 3-7 & 10-14, 2002
		Oliver!	July 26-Aug. 11, 2002
		Barefoot in the Park	Sept. 20-Oct. 6, 2002
		Miracle on 34th Street	Nov. 15-Dec. 1, 2002
2003		Lend Me a Tenor	Feb. 14-23, 2003
		Love Rides the Rails (Will the Mail Train Run Tonight?)	April 11-13, 2003
		Children's Theatre Camp	June 9-13 & Aug. 11-15, 2003
		Guys & Dolls	July 11-27, 2003
		The Diary of Anne Frank	Sept. 19-Oct. 5, 2003
		The Best Christmas Pageant Ever	Nov. 14-30, 2003
2004		Dearly Departed	Feb. 13-22, 2004
		Swing Fever (High School Show)	April 23-May 3, 2004
		Children's Theatre Camp	Aug. 2-6 & Aug. 9-13, 2004
		Big - the Musical	July 19-25, 2004
		The Trip to Bountiful	Sept. 17-Oct. 3, 2004
		Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus	Nov. 19-Dec. 5, 2004
2005		Greater Tuna	Feb. 11-20, 2005
		Escanaba in da Moonlight (Special Fundraising Show)	Feb. 25-27, 2005
		The Groom Said NO! (High School Show)	April 22-May 1, 2005
		Children's Theatre Camp	June 6-10 & 13-17, 2005
		Man of La Mancha	July 29-Aug. 14, 2005
		Jake's Women	Sept. 16-Oct. 2, 2005
		A Christmas Story	Nov. 18-Dec. 4, 2005
2006		A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum	Feb. 10-19, 2006
		Death by Chocolate (High School Show)	April 21-30, 2006
		Children's Theatre Camp	June 5-9 & 12-16, 2006
		Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge	July 28-Aug. 13, 2006
		The Runner Stumbles	Sept. 22-Oct. 8, 2006
		Uh-Oh Here Comes Christmas	Nov. 17-Dec. 3, 2006
2007		Steel Magnolias	Feb. 9-25, 2007
		The Curious Savage	April 20-29, 2007
		Children's Theatre Camp	June 4-8 & Aug. 6-10, 2007
		Wait Until Dark	July 13-29, 2007
		Escanaba in da Moonlight	Sept. 14-30, 2007
		The Sound of Music	Nov. 16-Dec. 2, 2007
2008		Love, Sex & The IRS	Feb. 8-24, 2008
		The Uninvited	April 18-27, 2008
		Children's Theatre Camp	Summer 2008
		Godspell	July 11-27, 2008
		Cheaper By The Dozen	Sept. 19-Oct. 4, 2008
		A Christmas Carol	Nov. 21-Dec. 7, 2008
2009		Odd Couple (Female Version)	Feb. 6-22, 2009
		Happily Ever After Once Upon	April 17-26, 2009
		Children's Theatre Camp	Summer 2009
		The King and I	July 17-Aug. 2, 2009
		Escanaba in Love	Sept. 18-Oct. 4, 2009
		It's a Wonderful Life	Nov. 20-Dec. 6, 2009
2010		Don't Drink the Water	Feb. 5-21, 2010
		Love Rides the Rails (Or, Will the Mail Train Run Tonight?)	April 16-25, 2010
		Children's Theatre Camp	Summer 2010
		Oklahoma!	July 16-Aug. 1, 2010
		12 Angry Men	Sept. 17-Oct. 3, 2010
		Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus	Nov. 19-Dec. 5, 2010
2011		Fuddy Meers	Feb. 11-27, 2011
		Othello, Undone	April 8-17, 2011
		Children's Theatre Camp	Summer 2011
		Doubt: A Parable	June 10-26, 2011
		Once Upon a Mattress	Sept. 9-25, 2011
		Christmas Belles	Nov. 18-Dec. 4, 2011
2012		Waste MISmanagement	Feb. 10-26, 2012
		Murder's in the Heir	April 20-29, 2012
		Children's Theatre Camp	Summer 2012
		To Kill a Mockingbird	June 15-July 1, 2012
		Almost Heaven	Sept. 14-30, 2012
		Greetings	Nov. 16-Dec. 2, 2012