COEUR d'ALENE - Ellen Travolta loves being the evil step-mother in "Cinderella," but there is one problem.

"You know what? I'm feeling way too comfortable and it's so much fun," she said with a laugh. "She's made up of?every actress and every mean character I've ever seen. She's an accumulation of lots of meanies, so it's fun."

Well, at least she'll have some good company in the wicked person department when the musical put on by the Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre opens Saturday.

Her sisters, Annie and Margaret, are the nasty step-sisters. Unlike their stage characters, these two actually get along - not that they always did.

When they were youngsters growing up in Englewood, N.J., they shared a room and a bed.

"We were always at each others' throats," Annie said, smiling.

"We're friends now, but back to when we were kids ..." Margaret added, laughing.

For the first time in their careers, the three Travolta sisters will be on stage together when they perform in "Cinderella" at North Idaho College's Boswell Hall Schuler Performing Arts Center.

"It's a trip," Annie said. "For me, it's a dream come true because I've always wanted to work with my sisters, they're so talented.

"This is an incredible vehicle for the three of us. I couldn't cast it better myself," she said, smiling.

Margaret agreed.

"It feels like the most natural thing in the world. I don't have any apprehension about it," she said. "We just kind of all fit together. We kind of think alike. Our sense of humors are alike. We help each other. There's no competitiveness or anything."

"Cinderella" is the Summer Theatre's second production this season, following "The 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee."

According to a Summer Theatre press release, "The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the Rodgers & Hammerstein hallmarks of originality, charm and elegance.

"Originally presented on television in 1957 starring Julie Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein's "Cinderella" was the most widely viewed program in the history of the medium.

"Its recreation in 1965 starring Lesley Ann Warren was no less successful in transporting a new generation to the miraculous kingdom of dreams- come-true, and so was a second remake in 1997, which starred Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her Fairy Godmother.

"As adapted for the stage, with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, the hearts of children and adults alike still soar when the slipper fits."

Director Roger Welch likes the way the performance is shaping up.

"It's very funny and sweet. The Travolta sisters are hilarious," he said.

Welch is good friends with the three sisters and enjoys working with them.

"It's been a blast," he said. "They're very silly. We have a lot of good laughs at rehearsal."

Along with the laughs comes a "wealth of acting experience."

"They also have a chemistry between them that is inherent because they're sisters and pretty close. There's a chemistry you can't really create," he said.

Welch added that, "rumor has it the rest of the Travolta family is coming to see it."

Cinderella is being played by Jessica Skerritt of Seattle. She appeared here last year, too, in "Miss Saigon."

"We brought her in for this show because she's pretty perfect for it," Welch said. "She has a great sweetness about her, she's beautiful, a gorgeous voice and a really wonderful actress."

The show also includes Jack Bannon, Ellen Travolta's husband, as the king, and Spokane residents Andrew Ware Lewis as the prince and Tamara Schupman as the queen.

Welch said "Cinderella" includes some terrific effects.

"We have to make a pumpkin turn into a carriage, we have to turn mice into horses, have the fairy godmother appear out of nowhere," he said, laughing.

So, how do they do it?

"Well, you have to come see," Welch said with a smile.

It should appeal to all ages, he added.

"There's enough humor in it, the adults will appreciate it, there's enough things little kids will appreciate," Welch said. "It's not just a kids show. There's really something for everybody."

The Travolta sisters, whose brother is actor John Travolta, have extensive theater backgrounds.

Ellen and husband Jack Bannon have been a fixture with Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre for 20 years.

Annie, the youngest of the three who played Miss Lynch in "Grease" eight years ago, stays busy with commercials and playing a nurse on General Hospital.

In her 40-year career, Margaret has been one of the top voice-over actresses, with credits including Kraft, Disney World, Sears and McDonald's. Her film and TV credits include "Old Dogs," "Enchanted," "Wild Hogs" and "Catch Me If You Can."

Ellen said their mother loved theater, "so we all sort of followed suit."

"She provided a playground for us, costumes to play it. It was pretty available for us, whether we wanted it or not."

The Travolta sisters said they're looking forward to sharing the spotlight. They all joked that Ellen, the eldest sister, "tends to take over."

"We don't mind," said Margaret, who will be on the Summer Theatre stage for the first time.

Annie called being on her stage a "dream come true."

Ellen lives in Coeur d'Alene, and Margaret moved to the area last year. Annie lives in California and doesn't plan to move to North Idaho - yet.

"I would by myself if I didn't have a husband and a daughter," she said with a laugh.

Asked if they might do a little ad-libbing for "Cinderella," they said "oh, no" while grinning and glancing at Welch.

"We don't dare, yet," Ellen said, while suppressing a smile.

"We're very professional," Annie added.

If you go

“Cinderella” by the Coeur d’Alene Summer Threatre will be performed July 3 through July 17 at Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre-Schuler Auditorium in Boswell Hall. Evening shows are 7:30 and matinees at 2 p.m.

A “family friendly” special presentation of “Cinderella” is set for 2 p.m. July 10, with seats costing $15. It is a show added to open the performance to more children. Organizers are hoping to fill each seat.

There will be a matinee at 2 p.m. and an evening performance at 7:30 on Saturday, July 3.

The show features Ellen Travolta as the wicked step mother, Jack Bannon as the King and Annie and Margaret Travolta as the evil step-sisters.

For tickets, call 769-7780 or go to www.cdasummertheatre.com

Tickets range from $25-$39.