Shasta School students will get a sneak preview Wednesday of the Manteca High Drama Department’s “The Madwoman of Chaillot.”

The pre-show is scheduled to take place at 9:30 a.m. in the Dorothy Mulvihill Performing Arts Theatre.

Opening night is Thursday at 7 o’clock. Cost is $5.

The encore performance is Friday at the same time.

Drama teacher Dawn Coyan directs this play written by Jean Giraudoux. This timely piece was written in Paris, France, during World War II.

Junior Kassidy Klinesmith stars as the Madwoman while Mike Rood is the President, Tony Padilla plays the Prospector, William Preston is the Baron, and Laurence Turner is Pierre.

Other cast members include Skye Maldonado Lopez (Mme. Josephine), Elizabeth Matthews (Mme. Constance), and Evelyn Sommerfeld (Mme. Gabrielle).

Coyan indicated that her students first discussed the contemporary issues of those days in order to put together an entertaining and thought-provoking performance.

She described the play as “one crazy old lady’s efforts to stop overbearing powers from turning Paris into an oil field once black gold has been discovered under the cobblestones of the City of Lights.”

“The Madwoman of Chaillot” is actually about people battling conformity and greed, at same time, maintaining honor while looking to do the right thing.

The play is set in the Café de L’Alma in the Chaillot district of Paris and has two acts.

For more information, call MHS at 209-858-7340 or log on to www.manteca.schoolspan.com/school/mantecahigh.

Meanwhile, at Lathrop High School, a spoof of “The Phantom of the Opera” has citizens of Skunk Creek dealing with the problem of a phantom in the opera house.

“The Phantom of the Op’ry” was adapted from the book by Tim Kelly – music by Gerald Castle and song lyrics by Michael Vigilant – with students of the Lathrop High Drama Department performing Thursday (7 p.m.), Friday (7 p.m.), and Saturday (noon) at the LHS Intermediate Theatre, 647 Spartan Way.

Eric Deleon stars as the Phantom, Arvin Argon as Lt. Farleigh Good, Gabby Ortiz as Christine Swansong, and Shannon Sandoval Ortiz as Carlotta Barracuda.

“The Phantom of the Op’ry” is also an interactive play.

Audience participation will be encouraged.

 “One can never be sure if the person in the next seat is another audience member or part of the cast,” said drama teacher and director Dianna Puett.

Tickets are $5 for general admission, and $3 for seniors, children under 12, and students with an ASB card.

For more information, call 209-938-6350.