Theater can leave a lasting impression. Young people, like the students being introduced to theater by the Warwick Middle School (WMS) drama program, can become lifelong arts enthusiasts.

"When it's all said and done, it's about these 45 kids and the hard work they're putting in," said Justin Droegemueller, one of the directors of WMS' upcoming performances of "Cinderella: Youth Edition." "People become drama patrons, and they remember their middle school years, and they remember they were part of something wonderful. I'd like to see the program continue to grow and thrive and see these kids have these opportunities. It's cool to see them spread their wings."

The WMS drama program will publicly present its rendition of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella: Youth Edition" on Friday, March 7, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, March 8, at 1 p.m. in the WMS auditorium, 401 Maple St., Lititz. Tickets can be purchased at the auditorium's box office up to an hour before each performance.

The show, which will include an intermission, will take about 75 minutes to perform.

"All the characters you know to expect will be there - the fairy godmother, the evil stepsisters," said Droegemueller. "People have grown up with this fairy tale. We thought this show would be an excellent fit for our cast. We're very blessed to have the talent we do in this area. It starts in the elementary schools, and these kids come up knowing the process, and they want to come out and be a part of what the middle school has to offer."

There are 45 WMS students involved with the production of "Cinderella," including 39 cast members - 14 eighth-graders and 25 seventh-graders. The cast features Eleanore Haldeman as Cinderella, Isaiah Stoltzfus as the prince, Emma Lovelock as the fairy godmother, Willow Johnson as the stepmother, Addy Woge as Joy, Chloe Bechdel as Portia, Josh Leakway as the king, Nola Lobo as the queen and Ross Weise as the herald.

The cast is supported by six crew members, who have been charged with the tasks of lighting, effects like fog and intricate transformations like changing Cinderella's everyday wear into a ball gown right on stage.

"It's going to be fun," said Droegemueller. "We have a very diverse cast of seventh- and eighth-graders, many of whom play sports. They come from all walks of life, and what they share in common is that they all enjoy theater. They're dedicated to our wonderful program. The best way I can say thank you is by trying to get the community out to see them perform."

"I enjoy being in musicals because of the supporting and friendly community," said Eleanore.

"The thing I enjoy most is getting to know people and working hard with them to put on a show," said Isaiah. "I love entertaining people and making them happy. Working with the other actors is fun because you get to build onstage and offstage relationships with them."

The cast and crew's work on "Cinderella" began around the new year, after auditions were conducted in the middle of December.

"Theater is a lot different than a lot of extracurricular activities," said Droegemueller. "Every year it's a new thing - new costumes, new sets, new students. These kids make friendships they might not have otherwise made, and they continue through high school. When you're on stage, things can go wrong or go differently than you rehearsed. You have to carry on and adjust. The show must go on."

In the end, it's those relationships and the thrill of performing that make all the hard work worth it.

"The nervousness is far outweighed by the energy and the excitement," said Droegemueller of the performances. "(The students) can't wait to perform. They peek under the curtain to see how many people are out there. There is an immense build-up. They always manage to rise to the occasion. I'm always amazed at these students, their professionalism and the heart they put into the production."