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Briarwood Christian School students rehearse “Arsenic and Old Lace,” which they will present on Oct. 26 and Oct. 28. Visit ShelbyCountyPhotos.com to view and purchase photos from the rehearsal. (REPORTER PHOTOS/KEITH MCCOY)

NORTH SHELBY – An upcoming performance by the Briarwood Christian School theatre department is sure to entertain.

The department will present “Arsenic and Old Lace” at 7 p.m. on both Oct. 26 and Oct. 28 at the school’s Barbara B. Barker Auditorium.

BCS is located at 6255 Cahaba Valley Road in North Shelby County.

Written by Joseph Kesselring and first performed on Broadway in 1941, “Arsenic and Old Lace” revolves around the Brewster family in Brooklyn, including two aunts who have taken to murdering lonely old men who rent rooms at their home, according to BCS theatre department director Lee Eady.

A brother believes he is Teddy Roosevelt and is digging locks for the Panama Canal when in fact he is providing graves for the aunts’ victims.

Mortimer Brewster eventually discovers one of the bodies.

“That’s kind of where the story evolves,” Eady said. “It’s just absolutely the funniest thing you’ve ever seen. It’s just a great show. It’s funny and brilliantly written. Everybody is crazy except for a couple of people in it.”

About 20 Briarwood students, in grades 9-12, are part of the production of the play.

Another student, Gabriella Priola, is providing make-up for the play, and her work will be on display at the auditorium.

Eady said she likes to pick older productions for the students because they offer a greater challenge.

“It gives them the opportunity to play a lot of different types,” Eady said. “It seems like the harder I make the challenge, the more they step up.”

Tickets costs $10 for adults and $5 for students.

They can be purchased online at by visiting StateChamps.com, clicking “Buy Tickets,” then “Briarwood Christian School Performing Arts AL.”

The online purchase, which is an option for the first time, will allow attendees to scan their smart phones at the door.

Those interested can also call 776-5908 for reservations, and ticket sale pickups will start on Oct. 25.

Seats are reserved, so only a limited number of tickets will be available.

Eady said the play is appropriate for middle- and high-school-aged students.

Other upcoming Briarwood productions include: “Twelve Angry Men” Jan. 4-6, “West Side Story” March 15-17 and “Beauty and the Beast Junior” with middle school students April 6-7.

Eady said “West Side Story” will feature Briarwood band students performing with a hired orchestra, and “Beauty and the Beast Junior” is the school’s first middle school play to be presented to the public for an evening performance.

Visit ShelbyCountyPhotos.com to view and purchase rehearsal photos.

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