WARSAW — Unbeknownst to many people, Kris Lake, the program director for Kensington Media and the morning voice of WRSW, has an extensive background in theater.

He found a new outlet for that interest through a new side job with Warsaw Community Schools where he was recently named director of the Performing Arts Center.

Lake began serving as the director of the PAC just weeks ago and has hit the ground running by announcing several new programming ideas.

The PAC Opened 17 years ago and seats more than 900 people and is used by various student groups at the high school.

Lake said he doesn't think a lot of the public realizes how gorgeous the theater is and how much potential it offers.

He wants to get more people into the seats.

"That's a big part of what I have been tasked with and challenged with is creating more opportunities to get the community into the space," Lake said.

Lake caught the theater bug as an elementary student when he auditioned for a play and found it interesting.

“Even after high school, theater was a humongous part of my life. Radio happened to be born during all of that at the same time,” Lake said. “In a roundabout way, what I do in radio and in theater really blend together in a lot of ways.” 

After high school, he was involved in a production of “Oklahoma,” when the show’s director fell ill and Lake was asked to step in.

“It taught me a different side of the theater world that I didn't know that I needed or wanted and that was to help the creative process of putting a show together.”

That led him into a bigger role, eventually directing 56 musicals & plays during his tenure in the Chicagoland area.

The move also led to a better understanding of venue management.

Lake said he jumped at the idea of getting back into theater — alongside his radio job and says the creative juices have been flowing ever since.

"I was making a list of things I wanted to do before I even had the job, in hoping I got the job,” Lake said. “Then when I came in, I said.  Oh yeah, by the way, I already made this list so we need to start working on this.’ ”

Among the items coming up, a Magical Day, which is a fully immersive day of Disney magic for children set for Oct. 7. This is the 7th year for this event. Lake simply added a new grand finale to it. 

That event then leads into a return to movie nights at the PAC with the screening of Disney Pixar's "COCO."

Another big event Lake is planning is a reproduction of War of the Worlds, the famous radio broadcast production that will be put on by theater students on Oct. 30.

"It's going to air live on WRSW and News Now Warsaw ... it's going to air exactly 85 years after it originally aired," Lake said.

"I don't know if they've done a radio job like this before, but we're really excited for it," he said.

Other events coming up:

The Theatre Department has announced the production of “My Heart Says Go,” with performances set for November 3-5.

Also on the schedule is the 9th Annual, Statewide Young Artist Competition to be held Saturday, Jan. 20.

Lake said he’s also planning a program that will showcase local artists and said he wants to incorporate more community involvement.

The post IN THE KNOW: Kris Lake’s theater background opens door to side gig with Performing Arts Center appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW -- On Wednesday, WRSW radio began celebrating its 75th anniversary with a proclamation from Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer and a gathering with representatives of the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce.

Thallemer joined WRSW’s General Manager Woody Zimmerman and Program Director Kris Lake this morning. Together, they listened to a clip from Aug. 11, 1948, when station founder Reub Williams introduced WRSW live on the air with help from then-mayor Charles Homer Rice.

Thallemer, a longtime listener, proclaimed August as WRSW month.

"You guys are such great community members and I'm sure you have been for the last 75 years, but as mayor I really see it. I couldn't be prouder and more honored to be here this morning to represent the city in wishing you another 75," Thallemer said.

The radio station, now owned by Kensington Media, will continue the celebration during Third Friday festivities on Friday, Aug. 18.

[caption id="attachment_81476" align="aligncenter" width="885"] WRSW Program Director Kris Lake (L) was joined Wednesday morning by Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer who read a proclamation celebrating the radio station's 75th anniversary. News Now Warsaw photo by Emma Hall.[/caption]

The post WRSW radio celebrating 75th on-air anniversary appeared first on News Now Warsaw.