By Erica Solvig
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MASON - More than 80 area children will take the stage for the first time as a cast this weekend to bring a Grimms' fairy tale to life.

The actors, who range in age from preschool to teens, are part of the newly formed Children's Theatre of Mason Inc. Their debut performance, Twelve Dancing Princesses, runs Friday through Sunday at the Mason High School auditorium, 6100 Mason-Montgomery Road.

"The rehearsals have been taking up a lot of time, but in the end it's going to be great," said 10-year-old Haley Braun, as she twirled around in her gold-toned princess costume.

Because so many students were interested, two separate casts will be splitting the performing times.

One student even wrote a modern-day introduction to the storyline, about a king who wants to know where the princesses go at night and wear out their shoes.

The performance includes bright-colored costumes and several song-and-dance numbers - a favorite for 8-year-old Zack Middleton, who does flips in the show.

"I always dance around the house and stuff," said the second-grader at Kings Mills Elementary.

The idea behind Children's Theatre of Mason was sparked after producer Robin Wilcox, a mother of four, was looking for a place for her children to get involved in theater.

It was formed with help from Mason Community Players, and auditions were held earlier this year. The group, which gets some help from adults, was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in February.

"The first time we all got together, we all got in a circle and got to know each other," said 10-year-old Claire Valle. "Now, we're friends. The older kids help out the younger ones."

Eventually, Wilcox hopes the group will have its own theater for practices and performances. They have been using the municipal center for rehearsals.

Twelve Dancing Princesses, directed by Mason High graduate Susan Salyor, runs about 90 minutes. Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $7.

The Children's Theatre's next performance will be in the fall, with auditions in August.

"Ultimately, anything the kids can do, we want them to do," Wilcox said. "Whether it's marketing and ticket sales to designing costumes and doing hair, we want them involved."

E-mail esolvig@enquirer.com