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Alpena Civic Theatre starts off its 2009-10 season with the romantic musical, "Meet Me in St. Louis." Show dates are Oct. 14-18 and Oct. 21-25.

The play, directed by Julie Meyers, is the story of a happy family's life as they anticipate the wonders of the 1904 World's Fair. It chronicles a year in the life of that family written from the prospective of Esther, the second oldest daughter.

Though the play was written in 1989, it is an adaptation of the 1944 movie of the same name that starred Judy Garland. The movie was MGM's second highest grossing picture after 1939's "The Wizard of Oz," also starring Garland.

Included in the production are seven of the best loved songs from the film and 10 other numbers written specially for the stage.

As the show opens, the principals sing the title song while introducing themselves: Tootie (Breanna Burrone), the youngest girl; Agnes (Ashley Timmreck), her closest sister; Lon (Devon Chisholm), the son ready for college; Mrs. Anna Smith (Linda Suneson), mother; Katie (Donna Roussin), the family's Irish maid; Grandpa Prophater (Jere Standen); Rose (Katie Lewis), the eldest daughter; and Esther (Allyssa Tatro), the second oldest daughter.

Amidst the excitement of the fair, Esther's crush on John (Christopher Lytle), the boy next door, is revealed. Mr. Smith (Gary Goren) is depicted as the stern father. Rose, the eldest, has her heart set on Warren Sheffield (Will Saxby).

There's also Eve (Caitlin Borke), who will be Lon's date at the annual Winter Ball, and Lucille Ballard (Angie Shiemke), a sophisticated and charming young lady who is the rival for the boys' affections and causes the Smith girls to conspire to protect their territory.

Peewee Drumond (Morgan Suszek) and Sydney Purvis (Aaron Jackson) are young boys trying to catch the girls' attention, but with little success. The man in uniform (Don Cline), is both mailman and trolley motorman, adding a rich character to the mix.

Additionally, there is a group of townspeople who also make up the chorus and are played by Madison Timmreck, Marlo Broad, Lillian Broad, Marilyn Kettler and Pat Skiba.

Serving as assistant director to Meyers is Jay Kettler. Other key production members include Karen Thompson as musical director, Marilyn Kettler as choreography, Jackie Herbert as producer and Suelyn Bartz, orchestra.

Show times are Wednesday to Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. For reservations, call the Alpena Civic Theatre box office at 354-3624.