COEUR d'ALENE - Thirty-four Bryan Elementary students will participate in "Aliens and Princesses" on Saturday.

The 45-minute play was written and directed by Treece Bashaw.

The musical includes a cast of princesses, animal friends and the magic of a Fairy Godmother.

"After Earth is awarded the Best Planet in the Milky Way Galaxy, Kronk, the mis-guided ruler of Zuckerborg, decides, in order to be the best planet he must have what Earth has ... princesses," according to a press release. "As the bumbling aliens attempt to capture the princesses, they get more than they bargained for."

The two lead characters are played by Tyler Dodd and Elisha Sherwood.

Bashaw said she wanted to write a play that allowed more students to play characters. She wanted to cast several girls as princesses and attract more boys by having alien characters.

"I didn't flush out more boys than usual but I was pleasantly surprised that many of the girls were excited to be aliens," she wrote.

She wrote what she calls a "cautionary tale" about technology replacing human interaction, stranger danger and protecting Earth.

This is Bashaw's 10th play. She believes there are many benefits for students involved, including communication, creativity and courage.

"As a young child, all I ever wanted to do was to perform for my parents," she wrote. "I have had testimonies of how these plays have brought shy kids out of their shells."

Performances are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday at the Coeur d'Alene High School theater.

Tickets are $2 at the door, $5 for families.