If you have watched Disney movies before, and you like Disney movies, this is the perfect combination of all of them together," said Elizabethtown Area Middle School sixth-grader Andrew Wagner, describing "Disney's Descendants: The Musical." The show will be performed in the auditorium at Elizabethtown Area High School, 600 E. High St., at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6, with an additional performance at 2 p.m. on April 6.

The show features more than 100 students in the cast and crew, said Benjamin Fortier, who is directing the musical with Lauren Ritter. "This is a generation of kids who grew up with the 'Descendants' movies, so it seemed like a good choice for a show," he noted.

Based on the movies of the same name, the musical tells the story about the children of classic Disney villains interacting with the world of the children of Disney heroes, said Ben Creason, an eighth-grader who plays Prince Ben, the son of the Beast and Belle from "Beauty and the Beast." "The show's theme is about overcoming prejudice to make a better tomorrow," Ben stated.

Andrew, who plays Carlos, the son of Cruella de Vil, said the show features high-energy songs and dancing, showcasing Disney characters in a new light.

Emma Golihew, an eighth-grader who portrays Evie, the daughter of the Evil Queen, agreed. "The show is about the villains' kids being sent to a school with the heroes' kids," she explained. "The children of the villains are supposed to cause trouble, but they are kind of debating whether they want to or not."

Featuring songs from the "Descendants" movies, the musical covers a wide range of emotions, said Stephen Fasick, an eighth-grader who portrays Jay, the son of Jafar. "The song 'Did I Mention?' is about love, and the song 'Goal' is about winning, and the song 'Break This Down' is about all coming together," he said.

He noted that the most challenging part of the musical has been staying on task, adding with a laugh, "It's a middle school show with middle-schoolers." Still, he and his castmates emphasized that the students have been working hard since November to put on a quality performance.

Avery Heckman, an eighth-grader who plays Mal, the daughter of Maleficent, said audiences will walk away with the message of the importance of friendship. Anyone of any background can turn into someone good, she shared. "Your friends will always be with you," she said, noting that getting to play a part in the musical has allowed her to make new friends. "It's been great working with the directors and getting to be a part of this really amazing community. It's just a really fun experience."

Tickets for "Disney's Descendants: The Musical" may be purchased at the door.