Seniors from Pike Liberal Arts School will take the stage for the first time for “Once Upon a High School” this Friday night at 6:30 p.m. during their dinner theater.

PLAS offers a beginning drama class that is only offered to seniors as an elective.

“They have no drama experience whatsoever,” said Charlotte Walden, teacher of the class, who also does not have a background in drama. “It’s unusual because usually for seniors, it would be an advanced drama class. So, they are learning a lot on the spot. It’s an interesting dynamic.”

“Once Upon a High School” tells the story of common fairytale characters being tossed into the real world.

“The twist is that they get a taste of reality,” Walden said. “They are living in their fairy tale world, but they step over into reality, and it makes it a little interesting.”

This is the second year to have a dinner theater that is a performance exclusively featuring graduating seniors. A few of the ones on stage are younger volunteers who are used to being on a stage, but the majority are seniors who have never performed.

“Some of the ones who are more shy have kind of surprised us a little bit because they break out of their shell,” Walden said. “You expect it. You don’t see that in the classroom, but you see it on stage.”

All the funds raised from the dinner theater will go toward the drama department, so they can invest in things such as curtains and equipment.

“I’d like to continue the dinner theater,” Walden said. “Hopefully, as we go along, as we progress in the program, people will be more willing and more excited to participate and look forward to. I want it to be a class they look forward to. I’ve already had some of the ninth graders say that they can’t wait for the senior drama class.”

The lead roles for “Once Upon a High School,” are the Woodsman and Donica, played by Hunter Murphree and Madison Gilmore.

Tickets are available in the front office of PLAS and are being sold for $15. All seats must be reserved, as tickets will not be sold at the door.