Albert Lea Community Theatre is bringing a not-so-ordinary version of a beloved fairy tale to the local stage this week.

ACT’s children’s production of &uot;Cinderella&uot; has the warmth and charm of the well-known story, but it also has quite a bit of humor stirred in as well.

&uot;The stepmom and stepsisters aren’t mean and evil,&uot; said Director Patrick Rasmussen. &uot;Instead, we have slapstick. It’s a mild version of the Three Stooges.&uot;

The production has been so much fun that Rasmussen said he had to stop himself from adding any more comic bits.

&uot;I think the kids will get a hoot out of it,&uot; he said.

Because of the talents of the actors, ages 13 to seniors in high school, the play will also feature a ballet number right after Cinderella gets into her coach.

asmussen said over 50 young people auditioned for roles in the production, which runs Sept. 18-20 at the Albert Lea Civic Theatre. Curtain time is 7:30 each evening, with a 2 p.m. matinee as well on Sept. 20.

The cast includes: Hannah Gjersvik as Cinderella, Erica Sorenson as the stepmother, Nissa Nordland as the older sister, Emily Hacker as the younger sister, Stephan Johnson as the jester, Tony Segura as the prince and Katlynn Nelson as the fairy godmother. Courtiers are Brooke Arnold, Alexandra Ciota, Paige Onstad, Jenna Christensen, Abraham Swee and Scott Strom. The ballet number will be performed by Alexandra Ciota and Breann Sorenson. Trisha Kvenvold is the stage manager.

The director said he could have cast the play many ways, but had to take the actors’ activities into consideration. They’re involved in choir, band, orchestra, hockey, figure skating, soccer, dance and more. Still, he’s pleased with the actors he’s chosen.

Tickets are $7 per person and are general admission. The box office opens at 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and 3:30 until curtain time on performance nights. It’s also open from 1-2 p.m. Saturday. The phone number is 377-4371.

This production of Cinderella is made possible in part by a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council Inc., through funding from the Minnesota Legislature.

This grant has made it possible for Albert Lea Community Theatre to start a youth theater.

The next production, &uot;The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,&uot; will be in the spring of 2004.