Bob Jones Patriot Players will present “Sleeping Beauty and the Z’s” on Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 2 and 6:30 p.m. in Zompa Auditorium. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – A comic twist on a beloved fairy tale will have the audience laughing when the Patriot Players at Bob Jones High School present “Sleeping Beauty and the Z’s”.

“Think you know the true story of Sleeping Beauty? This adaptation of the original story keeps the laughs, love and yawns but adds new characters, conflict, adventure and romance,” student producer Savannah Nichols said. Nichols also portrays Olivia.

Maggie Dutton is playing in the title role. Other cast members in primary roles are Will Carey (Prince), Leah Boyd (Evil Fairy) and Naia Erkelens (Good Fairy). “Many aspects make this performance come to life by many of the Bob Jones theatre students,” Nichols said.

Compared to Snow White’s familiar story, “these characters are fantastical and larger-than-life. Though this could be a challenge, the cast welcomed this test,” Nichols said.

“There’s a whole process in getting to what you see on stage,” Nichols said. “First, we go through script after script. Then we cast, plan the movements and get costumes. Then, it’s rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.”

Most cast members are in honors and advanced-placement classes and other extracurricular activities. However, “they put full effort into the show and learn to better their characters by directors B. Dwayne Craft and Mary Davis and student director Sarah Combs,” Nichols said.

The cast and crew’s hard work and stressful hours invested into this show are paying off, Nichols said. “We experience the show getting better every run.”

“It’s great and satisfying to see the show come to life”, Ian Rigby, who portrays wizard Geriatricus, said. Abigail Hubbard, who plays fairy Zellie, was obsessed with fairies and princesses as a child. “I’m so happy that I finally get to be one,” Hubbard said.

Show times are Dec. 12 at 6:30 p.m. and Dec. 13 at 2 and 6:30 p.m. in Zompa Auditorium. Admission is $5. For more information, call 256-772-2547.