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 was formed in 1991 by a group of Pecatonica High School students and recent graduates who wanted to continue performing theater after high school. With the help of some supportive adults, we were organized as Pec Playhouse Theatre and produced our first show, Out of the Frying Pan, in August. This show was funded entirely by membership dues and proceeds from a car wash. In the early years, shows were performed mostly at Pecatonica High School or occasionally in the American Legion Hall.

By 1994 we began producing summer musicals with The Wizard of Oz, marking a new attendance record. In the summer of 1995, we co-produced Annie Get Your Gun in Byron with the newly-formed Byron Civic Theatre, their first production.

Meanwhile, live theater productions had stopped being produced at Pecatonica High School. In 1998, we produced You Can’t Take It With You as the first of an annual tradition of producing one mainstage show each season for the high school students. The "high-school-only" show is now included in each season, growing in popularity and participation. We’ve truly enjoyed introducing these teenagers to live theater each spring.

Later that same year, as available production time and space at the high school was increasingly scarce, we entered into an agreement with the Pecatonica Heritage Museum to make a new "home" for us in their building complex, the centerpiece of which is a 100-year-old grain elevator being preserved and restored for its agricultural heritage and economic significance. With a place to call our own, we were able to expand our schedule to several shows per year, and our non-permanent seating allows us to perform in traditional proscenium, thrust, or in-the-round sytles.

Although we were formed as an organization in 1991, we officially became a not-for-profit corporation in 1997. In 1999, we received our recognition from the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, making charitable contributions to Pec Playhouse Theatre fully tax-deductible.

We’re grateful to all of our friends and volunteers who have donated their time and energy to our continued growth over the years, and to our patrons and financial contributors who help keep it going. We are excited about the future of Pec Playhouse, and hope you’ll want to be a part!

When you visit Pec Playhouse Theatre, you will experience a quality performance in an intimate and rustic venue, produced by people dedicated to providing quality community theatre in Northern Illinois. If lively musicals, hilarious comedies, compelling and challenging dramas, or heartfelt family stories are to your liking, Pec Playhouse Theatre is ready to seat you.

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Pec Playhouse Theatre - Production History

Year	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	October 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 - August 11, 2002
	Barefoot in the Park	Sep. 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	Sep. 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	August 2-6 & Aug. 9-13, 2004
	Big - the Musical	July 19-25, 2004
	The Trip to Bountiful	Sep. 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 - August 14, 2005
	Jake's Women	Sep. 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 and 12-16, 2006
	Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge	July 28 - August 13, 2006
	The Runner Stumbles	Sep. 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 & August 6-10, 2007
	Wait Until Dark	July 13-29, 2007
	Escanaba in da Moonlight	September 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	TBA
	Godspell	July 11-27, 2008
	Cheap By The Dozen	Sep. 19 - Oct. 4, 2008
	A Christmas Carol	Nov. 21 - Dec. 7, 2008