SHOW OF HELPING HANDS FOOD DONATION OPENS DOORS TO PERFORMANCE.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Cedar Street Theatre will present two fairy tales this weekend that will not only entertain patrons but also benefit Antelope Valley's disadvantaged.

With casts predominantly made up of youngsters, the stories of ``Rapunzel'' and ``The Princess and the Pea'' will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday in the Black Box Theater at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center, 750 W. Lancaster Blvd.

Admission is free with donation of a nonperishable food item for Grace Resource Center, a Lancaster food bank that helps needy local families.

``It's a good show, the kids have worked really hard,'' said Lisa Edmonds, director of ``The Princess and the Pea.'' ``There's a lot of, hopefully, surprises in there ... it will be really entertaining for the kids to come out and see.''

Because there are four shows, ``The Princess and the Pea'' major roles are shared by two young actors or actresses.

In ``The Princess and the Pea,'' the princess is portrayed by Karina McVeigh and Samantha Macisso, while the role of the prince is shared by Alan Tyson and Eddie Campbell.

The other main roles in the ``Princess'' cast are: Katie Tyson as King Olaf, Christy Savage as Queen Ulrika, Vivian Colin as the queen's helper, Kendra Berry as Gustav the troll, Holly Champagne as Osric, and Kira Marsh as the voice of the book.

In ``Rapunzel,'' the title role is played by Samantha Evans; Ryan Hanson is Prince Llewellyn; Nicole Moore is the witch; Tara McVeigh is Renee Shwartzbuckle, the mother; and Jon Muir is Walter Shwartzbuckle, the father.

For more information, call [phone].

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6 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) The cast of ``Rapunzel'' rehearses Wednesday for this weekend's performances at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center.

(2 -- color) Samantha Evans, 12, rehearses letting down her hair as the title character in the Cedar Street Theatre's production of ``Rapunzel.''

(3 -- 6 -- color) Director Margie Berry, right, leads her young cast in the Cedar Street Theatre's production of ``Rapunzel,'' left. Below left, Berry and Carol Savage, who plays the queen, help star Samantha Evans, 12, with her long hair at Wednesday's rehearsal. Below center, Tara McVeigh and Jon Muir, who play Rapunzel's parents, help Evans get into character. Below right, stage manager Stephanee Owenby, 17, applies makeup for Pamela Mirsberger, 14, who plays a Glump Wart. ``Rapunzel'' and ``The Princess and the Pea'' will be performed starting Friday at the Lancaster Performing Arts Center.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer