The moral of the story reflects the mission of the organization. "Anne of Green Gables" and Servant Stage are a match made in community theater heaven.

Not only is Johnathan Bauer the executive director of the nonprofit Servant Stage, but he's also the director of the delightful play "Anne of Green Gables."

"When you get these shows based on novels, there are so many themes and so many messages," said Bauer. "Part of it is kindred spirits and friendships, and the transformative powers of families. These kindred spirits can bring out the best in us. With the power of love and friendship, you can be more of yourself.

"Anne has had a pretty difficult life, and she has this amazing optimism, hope, creativity and desire to connect with people," added Bauer. "She sees the extraordinary in life."

Servant Stage will present 19 performances of "Anne of Green Gables" from Friday, Sept. 4, through Sunday, Sept. 27 - mostly on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays - inside Lancaster Mennonite School's High Fine Arts Center, 2176 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster. The show is free to attend, and a goodwill offering will be accepted.

The two-hour performances are broken down into two acts and separated by an intermission.

"It moves pretty quickly, and it has this Golden Age of Broadway feel to it," said Bauer. "It's a period piece set in the late 1800s, with big dance numbers and a big cast. It's mostly a lighthearted show, and it's definitely for all ages. I think the audience can connect with the characters."

Nearly 150 individuals are involved with Servant Stage's production of "Anne of Green Gables," a roster that includes performers, musicians, set builders, production team members, ushers and concession stand workers. A total of 70 professional and amateur actors and actresses, between the ages of 5 and 70, make up the double-role cast.

"We're trying to portray a town," said Bauer, a resident of Strasburg. "Our cast is more than a typical theater show. We've got retirees, workers from different occupations, and half of the cast are students. It helps to create this feeling of a town."

Since its founding in 2015, Servant Stage has generated more than 100 productions and staged more than 1,500 performances. Currently, Servant Stage, which is headquartered at 1842 William Penn Way, Lancaster, is producing more than 200 performances each year.

"I think we're really unique in walking the line between community theater and professional theater," said Bauer. "We want to be accessible and have educational opportunities. At this point, I think Servant Stage is the largest pay-as-you-will theater troupe in the country. That makes us very unique.

"The beauty of theater is just the way it brings communities together and people together," Bauer continued. "That's the why of why we do theater. Both within the cast and in the audience, there are these shared experiences."

Servant Stage will also stage Lion King Kids at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 14, at Calvary Baptist Church, 530 Milton Road, Lancaster, as well as 27 performances of Joy to the World from Friday, Nov. 6, to Sunday, Dec. 20, at various locations across Lancaster County.

For additional information, go to http://www.servantstage.org.