The Hundred Dresses

By Mary Hall Surface
Based on the book by Eleanor Estes
Directed by Allison Narver

View the dress design contest winner here!

It’s never too late to make yourself a better person.

1930’s small town America is a difficult place for a Polish immigrant to fit in, but that’s all Wanda Petronski wants, to be able to make friends and play. Sadly, no one really notices her. Certainly, Maddie and Peggy don’t have time for the strange girl in their class who can hardly even speak English. Maddie and Peggy are best friends, laughing and playing together and even challenging each other to be braver. If only they were brave enough to make friends with Wanda. Wanda isn’t the only one who feels a little out of the crowd, though. Maddie is always afraid of getting teased by Peggy because Maddie’s father, like so many after the Depression, is out of work. The fear of Peggy’s mockery keeps Maddie in check. Wanda, however, doesn’t understand about blending in to be left alone, and when she tells the class about the hundred dresses she has, all lined up in her closet, she is tormented by taunts from the other girls. This quickly becomes Peggy’s new favorite game—asking Wanda about her dresses so the girls can all laugh at her. Soon Maddie starts to feel uncomfortable with teasing Wanda, but Peggy just won’t stop. It finally becomes too much for Wanda, she stops coming to school and her family moves away to the city to avoid the bigotry of this small town. Maddie is devastated by her guilt and realizes that standing by, doing nothing, is just as bad as the teasing and bullying. Maddie braves the scorn of her classmates and stands up to them, making an unlikely friend in the bargain.

A Note from Artistic Director Linda Hartzell:
This is a truly charming and well-told story, important for our kids to see and hear, giving them an understanding that history can impact the present. Even though it is about a young girl and has the word “dresses” in the title, I ask you to encourage the children in your life to keep their minds open to stories told from a different point of view—we all have so much to learn and enjoy from this tale.

In the post-show workshops, co-led by SCT and KCSARC educators, students reflect, discuss, and enact their response to the play and how we can be heroes in our everyday lives. Here are some materials to help you start a conversation with the kids in your life.

Target Family Matinee: March 1

ASL Interpreted school show: March 12

ASL Interpreted public show: Saturday, March 15 at 2pm

Family Date Night Dinner: March 7

Have a Question?

Try the FAQs page.