'ARKANSAW BEAR' NOT JUST FOR KIDS.

Byline: - Daily News

LANCASTER - Losing a loved one can be a difficult subject to deal with, especially for children, as young Tish finds out in the play ``The Arkansaw Bear.''

To be performed Saturday by Antelope Valley College's Theater for Young Audiences, the play by Aurand Harris tells of a little girl, upset that her grandfather is dying, who is befriended by an imaginary bear.

The play was one of the first in children's theater to address the subject of death, director Mark Branner said.

``I think it's a really timely topic, with Sept. 11 ... a lot of kids have been asking about these issues,'' said Branner. ``It really should be a great family entertainment event. It's a very entertaining show, there's a lot of spectacle, characters fly.''

There will only be one public performance, but the play is being performed for elementary school students all week.

Appearing in the show are Mike Hoyle as the world's greatest dancing bear; 11-year-old Charae Lehman as the little girl; Ben Baxter as the dancing bear's friend, a mime; Sherman Slade as the Little Arkansaw Bear; Benjamin Shade as the shooting star; Joseff Stevenson as the ringmaster; Catina Booker as the mother; and Erin Gwartney as Aunt Ellen.

The play will be performed at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster Blvd. Tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $8 for children and students. For tickets, call [phone].