Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre Program

Celebrating 60 years of Children’s Theatre at IU South Bend

Public Performances will be Saturday, October 3^rd, 2026 at 11:00AM and 2:00PM in the Campus Auditorium. Admission is $5 per person and seating is general admission. The box office will open one hour prior to the performance and there are no advanced ticket sales. Following each performance will be a cast/character meet and greet and fun activities for the kids (and kids at heart).

School group registration information

Teachers that signed up for early notification in the spring will be the first contacted in the fall to complete their group’s registration, about the second full week of August. There is only a narrow window before registration opens to everyone the last week of August so please add artsiusb@iu.edu and dwilborn@iu.edu to your safe sender/priority email list.

If you have not signed up for early notification, there is still room available. Please fill out the full registration form below. New registration requests will be processed beginning the first week of September. (in bold) Registration requests will not be accepted after Monday, September 14^th at 11:59pm.

Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre Reservation Request

About the program

Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre (Children’s Theatre Program) is one of IU South Bend’s longest-running community engagement initiatives, introducing generations of children from Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan to the magic of live theatre. Many former audience members no return as parents, teachers, volunteers, or grandparents, accompanying a new generation of children on the same field trip they once experienced. Beyond serving young audiences, Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre provides hands-on learning opportunities for IU South Bend theatre students in all aspects of theatre production while admission revenue supports theatre student scholarships.

As the performances are the first two weeks of October, we highly encourage you to sign up for early notification, so you have more time to complete your registration. Early contact will begin the second full week of August with the main registration period opening September 1^st and closing September 14^th.

Seats are $1 each for students, teachers, and chaperones. Payment is due prior to your scheduled performance. Payment information will be included in the confirmation packet for your registration and can be made via cash or check made out to Indiana University and mailed to Raclin School of the Arts NS101, IU South Bend, 1700 Mishawaka Ave, South Bend, IN 46615.

If your group requires alternate payment arrangements, please contact us to discuss options.

Two weeks before performances start, you will receive a packet with activities, curriculum integration ideas, and suggestions for preparing your students for the experience. Pre-visit discussion and preparation improve engagement in behavior, cognition, and emotion across learning levels and populations. (Glass, Begle, and Miller – Factors that Optimize Engagement for Diverse Learners at Arts Performances for Young Audiences, 2022.)

Refunds are only issued for instances of weather-related delays or closures by either your school or by IU South Bend.

Plan to arrive at the Campus Auditorium in Northside Hall (1825 Northside Blvd) 30 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the performance. We cannot delay the start of a performance for late groups as it would negatively impact the schedule of the other schools in attendance.

Buses should approach from the East (20^th St) for safe unloading. Please remain seated until an usher has has come to get your group. Buses that leave after drop-off should return to Northside Hall 40 minutes after the start of the performance.

If you are carpooling, your group will be assigned a location for parking and be provided with maps.

Note: The small parking lot immediately next to the building is reserved for individuals that require ramp access.

Restroom facilities are located down the hall from the auditorium; a teacher or chaperone MUST accompany students to the restrooms and any other time a student will be apart from the group. In the event of an emergency, ushers will direct you and your students. At the close of the show, please remain in your seats until the ushers collect your group. They will guide you to your bus(ses) or designated eating area if you opted to bring sack lunches. Please note that the restrooms available are low capacity and there may be lines.

The Story

WINNIE-THE-POOH

This fall, Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre returns to the Hundred Acre Wood to celebrate its 60^th anniversary with the same story that launched the children’s theatre program in 1966.

Winni-the-Pooh, the famous bear of very little brain, is singing happily that, “Isn’t it funny how a bear likes honey,” when the terrible trouble begins. Kanga comes to the forest with soap for baths and spoonfuls of strengthening medicine! Something must be done!

From the stories of A.A. Milne, Dramatized by Le Clanche du Rand, Music by Allan Jay Friedman, Lyrics by A.A. Milne and Kristin Sergel, Additional Lyrics by Le Clance du Rand, Produced by special arrangement with THE DRAMATIC PUBLISHING COMPANY of Woodstock, Illinois.

Michele’s Little Hearts Theatre Program