Allen County Public Library and the ACPL Foundation have announced a fundraising campaign to bring Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to the children of Allen County. 

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is dedicated to inspiring a love of reading by gifting books each month to children up to 5 years old, free of charge through funding shared by state and local community partners. Children must be registered by a parent or guardian to receive the books.

There is no charge to register or receive the books. Age-appropriate books are mailed directly to the homes of registered children each month.

“Here at the ACPL, our children’s services are second to none,” ACPL Executive Director Susan P. Baier said. “I have complete confidence that when a child uses our library, they will leave with the foundation to be a lifelong reader. 

“But equally important is the need for children to have books in their homes. We know that one in five young children do not have a book of their own, and that’s why I am so thrilled our foundation wants to help us close that gap through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.”

Out of Indiana’s 92 counties, 77 are fully covered by the program. 

At its February board meeting, the ACPL Foundation voted to create a committee dedicated to bringing the program to Allen County. Upon launch, Allen County would be the largest county in Indiana with the program. 

Nearly 900 Allen County families have already expressed interest in the program via Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library website.

The ACPL Foundation must raise $100,000 to fund the launch and sustain the first two years. Fundraising will continue until the goal is met. 

The community is invited to make donations at acpl.info/imaginationlibrary or by visiting any ACPL branch.

Juneteenth lecture at downtown library

In celebration of Juneteenth, Jonathan W. White, Ph.D., will present “Abraham Lincoln, Juneteenth, and the Power of the Emancipation Proclamation” at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 19, in Allen County Public Library’s Main Library Theater. 

The lecture can be attended in person or virtually, but registration is required. 

Register for virtual lecture by clicking here and in-person registration is at here.

Project Ballet hosts events for young dancers

Project Ballet will hold two themed events for young dancers this month: Ballet Under the Big Top on Wednesday, June 19, and Let It Snow on Thursday, June 20. 

Both events will be from 5:30-6:45 p.m. and will include ballet, crafts, and a performance for the family at 6:30 p.m. 

Cost is $45 per person and is open to ages 4-9 (or 3-year-olds who have completed a program at Project Ballet). For more information or to registration, go to projectballet.org/themed-evenings.

PFW hosting pair of recitals

The Purdue Fort Wayne School of Music will hold two concerts this week. 

An Emerging Artist Recital will be at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 13. The concert features PFW piano performance major Christian Urizar, who will perform piano solo works by J.S. Bach, Haydn, Prokofiev, and Schumann. 

At 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 14, the final recital of the Gene Marcus Piano Camp and Festival will feature performances by camp participants.

Both events will take place in Rhinehart Recital Hall and are free and open to the public. All recitals will also be livestreamed on the Gene Marcus Piano YouTube channel.

Fort Wayne Youtheatre releases 90th season

Fort Wayne Youtheatre, led by newly appointed Artistic Director Christopher J. Murphy, has announced the plans for their 90th anniversary season. 

The fifth-oldest operating children’s theater in the United States will kick off the Halloween season Oct. 18-20 at First Presbyterian Theater with Shuddersome: Tales of Poe. The show features The Tell-Tale Heart, The Masque of the Red Death, The Raven, and more of Edgar Allen Poe’s spine-tingling stories. 

Also at First Presbyterian Theater from Dec. 13-22, Youtheatre will present Anastasia. Inspired by the beloved film, this is the story of a brave young woman who sets out to discover if she’s the legendary Russian princess. 

From Feb. 21-23, Youtheatre will present Something Happened in Our Town as the latest addition to their Linda L. Ruffolo Young Heroes of Conscience Series. Neighbors Josh and Emma are best friends, but when a Black man is killed by a police officer, Emma and Josh have questions. The production will be at First Presbyterian Theater.

Youtheatre’s second Stories from the Stacks: Theatre for Young Readers collaboration with the Allen County Public Library will be Dragons Love Tacos from April 26-27 at the downtown library. A boy and his dog are watching a TV show about dragons when they unexpectedly get caught up in the “Do’s and Don’ts” of what to serve dragons to eat. 

The show is aimed at Pre-K through third graders but promises to be entertaining for all ages. 

All performances for Dragons Love Tacos are free, but tickets for the other shows go on sale July 1. 

For more information on the upcoming season, go to fortwayneyoutheatre.org.

Gaslight Playhouse ready for 50th season

Gaslight Playhouse, the longest-running playhouse in Noble County, has announced their 50th season at the Community Learning Center in Kendallville.

The season begins Nov. 8-10 with Drop Dead, followed by Puffs from Feb. 21-23, and Big Fish from July 25-27, 2025.

Tickets go on sale Aug. 1 with flexible ticket options available. 

For more information on the upcoming season, go to gaslightplayhouse.org.

News and Venues covers Northeast Indiana’s music and arts organizations, venues, and colleges, from large to small. Send your news items to info@whatzup.com.