Perry High School’s theater department will bring the magic of television’s “Dora the Explorer” to the stage.

Drama director Joe Sendek said doing “Dora the Explorer” was the idea of Noel Jordan, who also teaches drama at Perry High and made all the costumes for the school’s production of “Dora the Explorer.”

Along with the public performances, Perry High will present “Dora the Explorer” to elementary school students on five separate days.

“It just fits in so well with the curriculum,” Sendek said. “There are lessons about counting, following directions, sharing.”

One of the characters speaks only Spanish. Sendek said that as part of the play experience, vocabulary sheets were sent to schools that will be bringing students to see “Dora the Explorer.”

“Teachers will have had the opportunity to go ahead and expose students to these Spanish words,” Sendek said.

Sendek said Perry High School’s version of Dora will follow a trend in theater for children about involving the audience.

“It is very interactive,” Sendek said. “Dora will ask the audience questions and want answers. She will tell them to wave their flags and want them to do it. It is about engaging the audience and getting them involved in the scene on the stage.”

The theater department has built elaborate sets and props -- including a pirate ship -- that will help to entertain as the audience watches Dora and her friends search for the Pirate Piggies who stole their treasure.

“But it has a good lesson in the end, a lesson for children and for adults as well,” Sendek said.

“Dora” is not the only child-friendly play that Perry High will perform this spring.

Along with several other shows to be done before the end of the school year, Perry High will present “The Little Mermaid” on May 2-4.

Tickets for that show are also on sale now.

The Perry High theater department will present “Dora the Explorer” on Saturday at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. in the Perry High theater.

Tickets are $5. Small children who sit exclusively in their parent’s lap are $2. Seating is limited.

Tickets may be purchased at the Perry High front office 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For reservations, e-mail Jordan at noel.jordan@hcbe.net or Sendek at joseph.sendek@hcbe.net.

Contact Alline Kent at 396-2467 or allinekent@cox.net.