Local middle school students are learning about stage this week by making their own production of Tom Sawyer.

The Union Street Players are holding their first ever theatrical experience featuring actors and crew members from grades 5 through 8, with guidance from experienced adult teachers.

Student Director Isaac Piersma and Audio Director Will Rasmussen both tell KNIA/KRLS News the group aims to make this a high-quality performance in line with what the Union Street Players typically create.

“Even with this, you see a different perspective of actors who are shorter than an adult or something, but also the fact that it also kind of shows we can do something that adults can do, and that we can pull it off really well,” Piersma says.

Actors Connor Gauley and Treyton Turnbull say they’ve learned that acting takes teamwork to be successful.

“It’s not really all about you,” Gauley says. “Because if one guy forgets his line, sometimes that leads to you forgetting your line, or it just totally throws you off and messes you up.”

The young actors and crew members will hit the stage today at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Joan Kuyper-Farver Auditorium in the Pella Community Center. The shows are free, but a freewill donation will also be accepted to benefit Union Street Players.