After not presenting a play in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic, the Community Homeschool Players will return to the stage to perform "Tinker Bell" at Conestoga Mennonite Church, 2779 Main St. (Route 23), Morgantown, on Friday, April 8, at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, April 9, at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door.

Directing this year's play is 2020 Community Homeschool graduate Seerena Peterson; the assistant director is her brother, Kyle. Seerena was a cast member in the 2019 production of "Gladys in Wonderland," and Seerena and Kyle also appeared in the homeschoolers' version of "Cinderella" in 2018. Seerena played the title role.

"Tinker Bell," written by Patrick Flynn and based on J. M. Barrie's play, "Peter Pan," features well-known characters like Peter Pan and Wendy, and it is set in Neverland. "It's (the story of) Peter Pan, but from Tinker Bell's point of view," said producer Becky Stratton.

Seerena chose the play as this year's production. "I had the kids in mind, and I wanted to do fantasy again with starting up after two years of not doing any plays," said Seerena.

Stratton noted that the spring play usually features only high-schoolers, but this year, seventh- and eighth-graders have been added to the cast. In addition, the students watched the movie version of "Peter Pan" to prepare for their roles.

"We have a lot of students who did not do a play before," Seerena noted. "We had to start from scratch."

"There was no momentum to build on from last year," added Stratton.

Starring as Tinker Bell is Kayla Brown, who said she was familiar with Disney's version of "Peter Pan." "I knew it from growing up but never from Tinker Bell's perspective. It's really unique and cool that way," she said. "I feel like it puts on a different spin (that would be appreciated) by little girls. Tinker Bell is sassy, and it comes natural to me."

In addition to Kayla, other cast members include Dylan Frohlich as Peter Pan, Carisa Petersen as Mrs. Smee, Jesse Burkholder as Captain James Hook, Alyssa McCaffrey as Wendy Darling, Rachel Ruch as John Darling, Meredith Stratton as Michael Darling, Riley Driscoll as Tootles, Maura Taylor as First Twin, Rachel Stewart as Second Twin and Josh Stewart as Crocodile.

Established in 1995, the Community Homeschoolers Learning Group provides shared classes and activities for local homeschoolers from kindergarten to high school. For more information, email communityhomeschoolers@gmail.com or visit http://www.communityhomeschoolers.org.