BUILDING KIDZONE – Brian Halligan cuts a piece of the stage for KidZone, a production scheduled to kick-off this fall. Community members have been envisioning and planning the family program for over year. Halligan worked with Ziola Construction on the project, scheduled to be completed early this May Photo By Hillary Darling

"In many churches, parents are encouraged to drop their kids off or keep their kids quiet in the service," said director Andrew Brashaw, "but in KidZone, parents are encouraged to bring their kids and kids will be expected to jump around, dance and scream."

The organizers' vision of The Community Life Center's KidZone is of a production inviting, and appealing to, both children and parents, with weekly performances focusing on family values.

Atypical production will rely heavily on drama and music to portray concepts related to values such as friendship and kindness. The energy in the production will remain high, with aspects such as Tshirt launchers, games and energetic music.

After about a year of envisioning and planning the program, stage construction began April 14 in New Lothrop's Community Life Center, located at 7406 South Saginaw Street; the group of leaders is expecting an October 12 opening. Brashaw is working with Becky Johnson and Ann Drzewiecki, assistant directors; the project has been a group effort from over 25 contributors, mostly volunteers.

Once KidZone launches, organizers are expecting to involve the efforts of twice as many people.

Dan Johnson, one of the five volunteers who developed the blueprints for the construction, said the work on the two-story stage is ahead of schedule and under budget.

Ziola Construction is currently working on the stage, which will include storage areas, a projection screen, center stage, trap doors, a revolving wall and second story stage to accommodate dancers and singers. A portable media booth will enable transitions from KidZone to the center's other events.

"God has given us this vision," said Brashaw, "But he's also went one step further to give us the finances we need, and the volunteers we need, and the volunteers with the knowledge we need." Over $100,000 has been donated for KidZone.

Organizers hope the construction will be completed around May 5, but Johnson said the construction is just one small aspect of KidZone. "Construction is miniscule compared to what is really going to transpire," he said.

Each month, KidZone will focus on a virtue, such as patience, kindness or honesty. The program will portray concepts related to the different virtues each week. Aresource center will offer materials related to the topics presented, such as books, DVDs, and family games.

"In a hundred years, a child's grades, team records, instruments played or trophies earned won't matter," said Brashaw. "The only thing that will matter is their relationship with Christ. Everything that happens in KidZone will stem from that."

KidZone is expected to be a weekly event, with the program beginning sometime between 10 and 11 a.m. on Sunday mornings. A small group session will allow children to discuss the ideas presented in the program.

"KidZone will be a true family experience," Brashaw said, "Elements will appeal to adults and to children. Both will walk away being ministered to."