`GOBLINS' ADAPTED FOR BALLET TO DEBUT.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

Kathy Bingham is about to realize a dream of bringing one of her favorite stories to the stage.

Bingham, a dance instructor at Antelope Valley College, is choreographing the April 26-27 production of ``The Rainbow Goblins'' at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center. The college's production will be the first time ``The Rainbow Goblins'' has been translated for the stage.

``The Rainbow Goblins,'' by Ul di Rico, is about seven color-eating goblins that land in the Valley of Rainbows and the effort by the plants and animals to foil them. The author, whose full name is Ulderico Gropplero di Troppenburg, is an Italian count and artist.

Two years ago Bingham got the idea of bringing the story to the stage.

``I thought about it while reading the book to my children,'' Bingham said. ``There is so much movement in the art. I was thinking this would be a great ballet.''

Bingham learned about the book in 1978, the year it was published, when her father showed it to her. The college's production of ``The Rainbow Goblins'' is dedicated to her father, Raymond J. Kennedy, who died in 1987.

Bingham, a California Institute of the Arts-educated dancer and choreographer, first discussed bringing the story to the stage with the college's theater director, Rick Roemer, two years ago. Roemer jumped at the idea, Bingham said, and secured the rights from the publishing company.

``What appeals to me is that no one has ever done this,'' said Roemer, the show's director and narrator. ``It's fantasy. There's not a human being on stage. I'm a caterpillar. There are goblins and zebras and elephants.''

For the show's music, Bingham turned to colleague Laura Hemenway, a music professor and former conductor of the Antelope Valley Symphony.

``She jumped out of her seat and said `Yes! Yes!' '' Bingham said.

A five-piece ensemble costumed as animals and flowers will perform the music live on stage.

Other members of the creative team include set designer Lance Fontana, costumes by Karen Picard and special effects by David Suppe.

Bingham said she doesn't know what to think of seeing a goal realized until she sees it all come together on stage.

``It feels good,'' Bingham said of the show's progress. ``Individual pieces are excellent.''

Private screenings for schoolchildren will be held the week of April 22. Public performances will be at 2 and 7 p.m. April 26 and at 2 p.m. April 27 at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster Blvd.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 17. Tickets can be purchased at the LPAC box office or by calling [phone].

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Photo: (Color in AV edition only) Antelope Valley College dancers will stage ``The Rainbow Goblins.''