This weekend, Lighthouse Preparatory Academy in Jefferson City will put on an interactive production, "Dessert with Disney," featuring about half of the school's 130-plus students.
It will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the school, 216 El Mercado Plaza, and at 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10 (free for children under 2) and are expected to sell out. To reserve a ticket, call the school at 573-645-5253.
The 54-member cast (plus 10 back-stage workers) will put on a two-hour show that includes desserts such as mousse (the "gray stuff" from "Beauty and the Beast"), cookies in the shape of Disney characters and chocolate-covered Rice Krispies Treats.
The 54 cast members will dress as Disney characters. They will greet audience members at the door, they interact with them at their tables during the show, which will involve the cast members as well as the audience. Among other things, the cast will encourage the audience to sing along with them to hit Disney songs such as "Let It Go."
"It's a great acting experience for the students to be constantly in character," said Mary Alexander, the school's student life dean. "It's not a play where they have a little scene, then go off stage."
If you attend, she said, Cinderella might sit with you when you're watching the "Toy Story" part of the show on stage. "Toy Story's" "Woody" might turn into a toy and collapse on the ground when he's not on stage. "It's very high energy," she said.
The set includes three castles, one of which reaches the top of the school's gym.
On the tables, there will be other interacting entertainment for the kids, such as puzzles and coloring, Alexander said.
"It will be a very wholesome experience and a lot of fun," she said.