After 25 years of storytelling, the Pied Pipers will be reuniting this Saturday in accordance with the Homecoming festivities.
The Pied Pipers are a group of 11 energetic Harding students who wear brightly colored jumpsuits and have mastered the art of children’s theater. Their use of imagination is the foundation of their skits, and their improvisational technique creates a different performance each time they perform.
With so much history behind this group, the heritage is rich with past Pipers who have spread smiles onto countless children’s faces throughout the years.
“Piper history is a huge part of the Piper experience,” said current Piper and senior Ryan Tucker. “We hear stories about and meet so many of the older Pipers on tour that it’s like always meeting family.”
Tucker said he remembers his first Piper tour where he allowed a young girl on stage during the performance where she had the time of her life. After meeting some of these children he said it has completely changed his perspective on life by witnessing the joy of a child.
Dottie Frye, who serves as the director of the Pied Pipers, expressed her excitement about the reunion by recalling past memories of this group.
“Some of them have lived with us off and on over the years, and when they did, my boys had big brothers and sisters,” Frye said. “They’d mow the yard or clean the kitchen. Even if they didn’t live with us, when you perform for children and it’s a small group of nine or 10 people, you share wonderful experiences and make lasting memories.”
Frye said one of her goals in Pipers is to help create dynamics where they become family.
“I am so excited to see all these precious hearts that when they first walked in the door, I didn’t know any of them, and then they made a place for themselves in my heart and became family,” Frye said.
After 25 years of “piping,” this family of performers will share time together once again. Frye said she expects there to be 50 to 60 returning Pipers who will meet on Friday to visit, laugh and talk. She wants to gather everyone’s favorite songs and poems and compile them for Saturday’s show.
There will be a mixture of current Pipers along with representatives from years past. The show will take place in the Heritage Auditorium at 11 a.m. this Saturday.
