DANVILLE — Danville Light Opera presents its annual children’s musical next weekend, when youngsters will depict a generation several removed from their own.

“Flapper! A Madcap Musical Comedy Tribute to the 1920s” will feature several up-and-coming young local starlets.

Director and choreographer Stephanie Keller said the cast of 35 — who range in age from 9 to 17 — is working well together and is eager to show off their theatrical prowess.

The story follows heiress Polly Pepper who is about to turn 18 and inherit a necklace known as the “Ice Garden.” A lavish party is planned, and the story involves Pepper’s friends, family, gangsters and other colorful characters.

“It’s kind of all over the place,” Keller said.

Rehearsals are coming right along. This week, the cast was working on run-throughs, and cleaning up the lines.

“We’ve managed to stay mostly ahead of schedule,” Keller said.

Keller has performed with DLO since 2003. “Flapper!” is the 13th theatrical production she’s been involved with and her directorial debut. She choreographed the last adult DLO show, “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?”

Bailey Williams, who will be in seventh grade at North Ridge Middle School in the fall, plays Polly Pepper, a society flapper.

“She’s very popular and has a lot of friends. She’s always happy and smiling and lights up a room,” Williams said. “She’s just so fun. She’s a great character to play.”

Although there are some “relationships going on,” that make for some slightly more serious most of the story is funny and very entertaining, Williams said.

Williams is a well-seasoned actress. She’s been in several productions in area theater groups including DLO, the Beef House Dinner Theater and Red Mask. Last summer, she played Annie for the Lincoln Park Theater Company.

Williams loves it.

“I just love acting. It’s just so fun. You get to hang out with your friends and learn a lot of stuff. You have different experiences with different people and different music in each show.”

Marsha Williams, Bailey’s mom, is helping with costumes this year. Most actors only have one costume, but those who play more than one part have two. Williams provided some costume pieces, and others were pulled from old show choir costumes, Marsha said.

The show is a good one for all ages, and the musical numbers let the kids show off their talent. Audience members will get a kick out of the musical numbers, she added.

Meredith Black, who will be a sixth-grader at St. Paul’s Grade School in the fall, plays Augusta Granville, Polly Pepper’s aunt and society matron. Black didn’t want to give too much of the plot away, but said her character gets conned.

She said the show is a lot of fun to work on.

Black has been in about 11 shows including this one. She’s participated in Red Mask plays and has performed with DLO in two other productions.

She knew she wanted to act after seeing a Red Mask production.

“A friend of my mom’s inspired me when he did Red Mask. I thought it would be pretty interesting to be up there (on stage),” she said.

She learns more about acting the more productions she’s in, she said.

“This is one of my first big parts with DLO. As I got more used to doing what I did with it, it got easier. Sometimes I’d get nervous,” she admitted.

She encourages everyone to come out for the show.

“I’d say, the cast is amazing. We’ve worked real hard, and it’s probably going to be a really good performance. It’s something for all ages. I think it’s really funny.”

IF YOU GO

The performances of Danville Light Opera’s children’s musical “Flapper! A Madcap Musical Comedy Tribute to the 1920s” will take place at 7 p.m. July 24-25 and 2 p.m. July 26 at the Danville Area Community College Bremer Theater. Admission $7 for adults and $5 for youth up to high school age. Tickets are on sale at the Village Mall at DC Collectibles and at the door beginning a half hour before performances.