Christian Center School's 10th annual theater production has involved a lot of firsts for the small school.

For instance, it was the first production set in the 1950s.

More terrifying: It was the students' first musical.

"They were afraid to even audition," laughed Mary Hanks, the Hayden school's drama coach and the production's writer/director.

But like all the productions she has helped the school put on, Hanks said, the opportunity has injected the kids with confidence and opened them up to all new possibilities.

About 22 students - roughly 20 percent of the school's population - are participating, she said.

It's important for as many kids to get a chance on stage as possible, Hanks said.

"I believe it's a great thing for students to build confidence," she said, adding that past productions have had even more students behind the curtain. "They can just be on stage and be bold."

Opportunities for boldness abound in "At the Malt Shoppe," a comedy about an elderly cafe owner on the cusp of losing her beloved business.

The show is fraught with quirky characters and sweet moments, Hanks said, with songs inspired by bubble gum '50s hits.

"I really love '50s style music, I've never written anything from that era before," she said. "The play has a 'Grease' like flavor, with a moral high road, if you know what I mean."

The senior stars of the show add a lot of personality to their roles, she added, lauding the hard work invested by students Sean McLeod, Corinne Van Ostrand and Seth Howard.

"Some play senior citizens who get to sing about the aches and problems with aging," Hanks said. "It's always neat for young people to play older people and get a feel for what it's like."

A 10th annual production is no small feat for a school of about 103 students, she added.

Some things are little tougher, she explained, but kids jump on the creative outlet.

"A lot of times in smaller schools, you don't get to do what bigger schools with more finances are able to do," Hanks said. "But theater and the arts have always been really important to me. I love that a small school can put on a big production."

Performances are scheduled at 7 p.m. today through Friday at Christian Center School, 3639 W. Prairie Ave., Hayden.

Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students and children.

Hanks promises a night of carefree, buoyant entertainment, put on by committed actors and actresses.

The singing, she added, is coming along.

"I wasn't pushing for perfection in the singing," she said with a laugh. "But more, 'Let's have a lot of fun with this ourselves, and then it will be fun for the audience.'"