Pella High School’s spring theatre production, Aladdin, opens Friday night. The production will split the weekend performances between two casts, and seating the audience on the stage will make the performance unique.

“We have times during the play when we suggest that the kids – and maybe the adults, if they want to – can help us out with certain parts of the play,” says cast member Adam Gromotka – who plays the Genie and the Sultan in the play.

Based on Arabian Nights, the play is not the same as the “Aladdin” Disney movie, though there are some similarities. One of those variances, includes a character played by Korey Jones.

“One of the main differences, which affects my role a lot, is that in the movie [Aladdin] there isn’t a mother, and there is in this one,” says Jones. “Also there’s a bunch of fun changes, because it’s a participation play, and that makes it fun.”

Aladdin is geared toward younger audiences, and Jake Anderson – who plays Aladdin – says that makes for a fun audience to perform for.

“When you perform for adults, they’re usually a lot more quiet, and they clap at times when you expect it,” says Anderson, “but with little kids they’ll laugh and clap when you don’t expect it, and that makes it a lot of fun every time you do it.”

The play shows Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00 p.m. in the Pella High School Auditorium. Tickets are available at the door for three dollars each.