A message mixed with humor.

It's the kind of production for which the Promise Players have become known.

The troupe will put on "Simon Says: The Rockin' Trial of Simon Peter" on Thursday, March 12, through Sunday, March 15, and Thursday, March 19, through Sunday, March 22, at Lampeter Church of the Brethren, 1900 Lampeter Road, Lancaster. Thursday and Friday performances will begin at 7:30 p.m., Saturday shows will start at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m., and Sunday shows will occur at 2:30 p.m.

Promise Players' productions frequently sell out. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Seating is general admission on a first-come, first-served basis and will be available at the door if there is space. Tickets are paid for at the door. Children under age 5 will be admitted for free. To make reservations, go to http://www.promiseplayers.org or call the church office at 717-464-2050 on Mondays to Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Proceeds from the show will benefit Bible2School programs in Penn Manor, Lancaster city, and Manheim Township.

"Simon Peter is on trial, so it takes place in a courtroom," said director Dorothy Smith, a Salunga resident who has been with Promise Players since 2012. "He's on trial for claiming that Jesus is the Son of God, the prophesied Messiah, and they call witnesses in who had contact with Jesus. The witnesses come and testify to how they were (impacted) by Jesus."

Her husband, Philip, is the music director. The couple produced the same musical with a different group in 2009. "Compared to last year's show that we did, 'Muddled Memories,' the music is easier," Philip said. "Both the piano is easier and the singing is easier. So, compared to that, it seems much simpler, but there are a few places here and there that are challenging for the singers. There is dissonance, that is two notes that are real close together and make a crunchy sound that are tricky, but compared to last year, it's easier music-wise."

Dorothy added, "Probably one of the biggest challenges with the music is a good bit of it goes quite fast, so you really have to spit the words out quickly."

Shawn Gollatz will be taking part in his fourth Promise Players production. "It's my first musical, so being a tenor is a bit challenging because four-part harmony is not natural," said Gollatz, who is in the chorus, will portray John and James and sing a solo. "One of the things I learned, when you listen to a song, the melody that you hear sometimes isn't necessarily what anybody actually sings. It's just a collection of chords, and the way your voice works, you can only sing one note at a time, so you could pick one of those."

Several members of the cast recently joined the group. "About half the cast is new to shows with Promise Players," said Dorothy. "This is their first time to act with us and first time to be exposed to us for some of them, so that's always kind of fun and exciting."

Mamie Hilton, a teacher at Central Manor Elementary School, is one of the newcomers. "My stepmother, Shonda Hilton, was auditioning because she plays piano with Dorothy, and so she said, 'Do you want to try, too?' And I said, 'Sure, why not?'" Mamie said.

Mamie will portray Mary Magdalene. "I get to come on the stage at one point in scene 11, and then I get to speak to the judge and talk about my experience with Jesus," she said. "Then I have a solo."

One of stage manager Marty Raine's tasks is collecting props for the show. "The stage manager is the director's right-hand man," the Strasburg Township resident said. "Dorothy, as the director, makes all the decisions. I'm the one who has to remember and remind everyone when they forget. ... With a cast this big and with everything that's going on, one of the challenges is just remembering it all. I have to keep track of 28 people and everything that 28 different people are doing."

Guests can expect a typical, funny Promise Players performance. "There's a lot of humor in it," Dorothy said. "Promise Players in general likes to do humorous things oftentimes, but we always like to have a good, strong message. You get both the strong message of Jesus and His life and the miraculous things that He did but mixed with lots of humor."