When a group of students that have emphasis on science courses at a Waukesha middle school were told they could pick a play to perform, they quickly planned the production of  Guys and Dolls, Jr. at the Waukesha Civic Theatre, which the Waukesha STEM Academy (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) has rented for the production.

The play performed by the sixth- and seventh-graders debuts at 7 p.m. Thursday and continues at 7 p.m. Jan. 21 and Jan. 22. Tickets are $10.

The play will be shorter than the normal Guys and Dolls' script since it was adapted for a younger crowd of actors. It was acquired from Music Theatre International-Broadway Jr. so some of the songs and scenes are shorter or not included. 

While not quite the same version normally put on or depicted in Frank Sinatra’s movie, the story and entertainment are still there.

The four main characters are Sinatra’s gambler character, Nathan Detroit, who runs a floating crap game, Adelaide, who is his fiancé of fourteen years, classy gambler Sky Masterson, who has a bet running with Detroit and Sarah Brown, the uptight doll, who Masterson tries to get to fall for him to win the bet. Masterson, of course, falls in love in the process. Great songs and great lines fill the script in this musical comedy.

Charlene Ulichny, director of the play and music teacher at the Waukesha STEM Academy, urges the community to come to this play that the kids chose themselves.

"We have some really amazing students in our lead roles," Ulichny said. "It is hard to realize that they are just middle school kids.”

Not only have the kids been working hard on their lines, but they have made the entire show including the sets, lines, songs and dances in record time.

Ulichny is most looking forward to opening night because the kids will get to perform live for an audience.

"You simply cannot recreate that experience,” she said.

The Waukesha Civic Theatre is in its 54^th  year and offers a different shows for a varity of interest.

The theater produces more than 20 entertainment shows throughout the year, including mainstage shows, comedy, holiday and educational/outreach show, said  John Cramer, its managing artistic director.

Upcoming shows include ACT Live!, Alone Together, Comedy Tonight: Ain’t Love A Funny Thing?, which is just in time for Valentine’s Day, and State Fair. The theater has a full listing of upcoming shows online.