The First Stage Theatre Company will present its two-week run of “Once on This Island Jr.” 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Renaissance Art Center.

Amy Browning, director of the show, said the musical is an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid.”

“Once on This Island Jr.” is a shorter version of the full show and is written for a younger cast. It tells the story of an orphan girl who falls in love with a wealthy boy from the other side of the island.

“The story is originally written as a story of class and separation, and the full version focuses a little bit more on race,” Browning said. “But at the end of the day, it’s really a story of differences between haves and have-nots. It talks a lot about class, haves and have-nots and sacrifice. What you’re willing to give up for the love of another.”

The entire cast consists of children between the ages of 10 and 18. The group of children performed a selection from the show at the Junior Theatre Festival in Georgia.

Browning said she selected two children to student direct alongside her throughout the production process. She wanted the children to be as involved with the show as possible.

“They have creativity I have grown out of,” Browning said. “As an adult, I see the world in a different way and a different perspective. I try very much to encourage them to give their input and think about ‘How should we do this? How should we fix this problem?’”

Performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and March 6 and 7. Two matinee performances are scheduled for 2 p.m. March 1 and 8. 

Tickets are $10 for children 12 years old or younger and $12 for adults.

Mikaela Keener can be contacted at [email protected].