POINT PLEASANT — Residents will have the opportunity to see the popular fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel, come to life when the Mason County Actors Community Theatre (McACT) brings it to the stage this weekend.

Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday at the State Theater in Point Pleasant. According to Nancy Mayes, play director, the play is for all ages.

“I think everyone in the family will enjoy (the play),” Mayes said. “Hansel and Gretel is a children’s fairy tale, but this is not just for children because it involves adult actors.”

She added that the cast and crew have been working for several weeks to prepare for the play, which is mainly comprised of children’s roles. According to Mayes, there are five adults and 12 children involved in the production, with actors from all over Mason County.

In addition, the play will mark most of the children actors first time performing in a large-scale production, Mayes said.

“The majority of the children have never acted in anything like this — it is their first time ... Frankly I am surprised at how well they are doing. They’ve blossomed from shy children to actors,” she added. “It’s amazing how acting makes children grow in ability because it brings out self-confidence, and you can see the confidence build — that is the joy in this production.”

The play also utilizes special effects, which Mayes described as advanced. Kevin Fooce, president of McACT, does all of the set building, lighting and sound, while Teresa and Shawn Hesson painted a majority of the set with the help of the cast. In addition, Lori Killian serves as co-director of the play.

Mayes also described the play as being beneficial to both children and McACT because it has enabled more people to be involved in the group. According to Mayes, McACT chose to do a play geared towards children as an effort to expand the group by getting more youth involved.

Doing the Hansel and Gretel production, has not only grown children membership, but grown parent involvement as well, Mayes said. In addition, Mayes said that McACT is always looking to grow membership, and members no not need to be actors, but can also be involved as stage hands or with costuming and set design.

Mayes added that the group also is looking for a civic-minded person or business that can provide storage for McACT’s props, sets and costumes. The eventual goal of McACT is to raise enough money to purchase the State Theater, and the play is another step toward making this goal a reality.

“We encourage everyone in the community to come out and support this play, and bring the family,” Mayes said. “We encourage the community to support the actors community theatre because without support it is hard to accommodate the things we want to do for the county.”

McACT intends to put on another play this fall.

For more information, call Mayes at (304) 675-7472.