It’s that time of year again! Most of us associate March and April with warmer weather, blooming flowers and the joys of spring, but for the youth at Jefferson St. United Methodist Church, this time is known as dinner theater season.

It is a time of line memorization, late-night practices, and, above all, acting.

This year, the Jefferson Street Youth will present “Frankenstein” by Victor Gialanella, adapted from the well-known novel by Mary Shelley.

“Frankenstein” will join a legacy of fantastic Jefferson Street Dinner Theaters, including such distinguished literary and dramatic works as “The Diary of Ann Frank,” “Our Town,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and many more.

The cast includes Martin Charboneau as Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Avery Middleton as Peter Schmidt, Matthew Carey as William Frankenstein, Caitlin Lofton as Justine Moritz, Tyler Jordan as Lionel Mueller, Madison Watts as Frau Mueller, and Matthew Golden as Alphonse Frankenstein.

The senior actors include Chesley Coffey as the Creature, Tess Fairbanks as Elizabeth Lavenza, Andrew Walker as Alphonse Frankenstein, Michael Roboski as Hans Metz, Carlen Sizemore as Henry Clerval, and myself as DeLacey. John Hudson is our fearless director.

You don’t want to miss this production, taking place in Switzerland in the mid-1800s, that tells the story of Dr. Victor Frankenstein as he explores the creation of life and the consequences that come along with it. This production is full of drama and suspense and sure to keep all present on the edge of their seats!

Performances will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday and at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for youth and $5 for children.

Tickets may be reserved by calling the church office at 601-442-3795 or by purchasing from a youth member; also, tickets may be purchased at the door. Along with the performance, the audience will enjoy a marvelous dinner and dessert.

Money raised from the dinner theater will go toward the many mission projects and spiritual retreats in which the youth participate throughout the year. Some of our mission projects include, but are not limited to: a day of service “abroad” during our annual summer trip, a service trip on the weekend of the Martin Luther King holiday which during the past few years has been devoted to the post-Katrina New Orleans rebuilding efforts, and a full week of local missions and community service during the summer.

So come join us this week for a wonderful dinner served by the cast, followed by an exciting dramatic production! At $15 per person, it’s the best deal in town for dinner and a show, and it’s for a great cause.

Adam Blackwell is a member of the Jefferson Street United Methodist Church Youth Group.