With a whirlwind of musical numbers and lighthearted humor, "The Little Red Hen" entertained and educated young viewers Wednesday in the Satanta High School Auditorium.

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Mouse, cat and dog sing in the musical \"The Little Red Hen,\" performed by the Wichita Children\'s Theatre at the Satanta High School on Wednesday.

Dena Whisler, of the Satanta Arts Council, said the Wichita Children's Theatre Professional Touring Company's productions of "The Little Red Hen" and "Yankee Doodle," will draw more than 1,300 students and teachers Wednesday and today.

Whisle said the touring company has brought its performances to Satanta once every November since 1976. Children from grade schools, pre-schools and those who are home-schooled watched the performances.

Other schools in the area, such as Copeland, Sublette, Meade and Montezuma, attended the event.

The story of "The Little Red Hen" is centered on a dog, cat and mouse that quarrel all the time.

The little red hen puts the three to the test when she tells them she will be making a loaf of bread.

When she asks for help with making the bread, the dog, cat and mouse will not help her, but when it's time to eat the bread they instantly flock to her wanting a piece.

That's when the little red hen gives them a riddle to see if they can work with one another as friends. They are awarded at the end with a slice of fresh-baked bread.

Tiffany Williams' daughter Latristae, 4, of the Methodist Pre-school, said she wanted her to come along to the production with her daughter.

"It was good and it entertained my little one. She enjoyed it," Williams said.

The Satanta Arts Council sponsored both musicals, and grant money was given by the Western Kansas Community Foundation and Kansas Arts Commission. Delaine Stalker, chairman of the event, said most of the grant money is used to pay the cast.

"I think the kids really enjoyed the musical, and I enjoyed it, too. I will probably sit through the next performance of 'The Little Red Hen,'" Stalker said.

The other performance, "Yankee Doodle," will be viewed by fourth- through sixth-grade students at the same time today. The story will be a salute to all the famous and forgotten figures from 1776 to 1927 in U.S. history.

"I'm always glad the Arts Council can be apart of this and that they can bring this event to such a small town," Whisler said.