RATHDRUM - Becca Palmer wanted to give her Lakeland drama students a challenge that touched on a social issue - humanity.

So that's the theme of the Lakeland Hawk Stars Drama Club's production tonight and Friday at 7 in the school's commons area.

The club will present three performances of a multi-faceted arts production called "Humanity: A Night of Reflection" featuring lyrical dance and music and two one-act plays called "Tracks" by Peter Tarsi and "I Never Saw Another Butterfly" by Celeste Raspanti.

"This production portrays how everyone has both achieved and lost," student Claire Lundeby said. "It's not just acting; we've gotten to grow in other areas as well."

Palmer was interested in organizing a night of multiple art forms that hit on humanity.

"What could be more basic than how we treat each other?" Palmer said.

Students have been studying "What does it mean to be human?" and compiling artistic performances to demonstrate compassion, respect and love for people.

A dance, choreographed by Jessie Dettmann, two dramas (one modern and one about the Holocaust), a multimedia show and an unconventional curtain call all touch on the unified message of humanity and how we can all work harder toward treating each other better.

"Students agree it was a challenge to step out of their comfort zones and learn new artistic roles, but was definitely worth it," Palmer said. "They learned a lot."

"I Never Saw Another Butterfly" is about a child's survival in Terezin, a concentration camp during World War II that housed 60,000 Jews, including many children, before they were sent to Auschwitz and were executed. Only 100 kids survived. The play is based on the artwork, journal entries and poems recovered from the camp.

Rhiannon Rickard plays "Raja," the camp survivor. Sarah Jacobsen plays her teacher who inspires her to grow up with compassion.

"Tracks" examines how our daily interactions with one another impact our lives and how even the smallest choices can have huge consequences. Through forgiveness and compassion, though, hope can be restored.

Dettmann plays a lawyer, Megan Whitney a homeless girl and Lundeby a professor. Actors are purposely not given character names because they are everyday people.

Cost is $5 at the door and $4 for students with ASB cards, seniors and children under 10.

Fifteen percent of the proceeds will benefit Rathdrum charities or families in need. The rest will be used by the drama department to offset costs and buy materials for future shows.