MOULTRIE — Arts Center Theatre (ACT), the resident theatre group at the Colquitt County Arts Center, has been evolving each year since its formation. A product of that involvement can be seen this weekend in “Children’s Letters to God.”

“We see the theatre performances at the Arts Center as an outlet for all members of the community to participate,” said Mary Norman, vice president of ACT and executive director of the Georgia Theatre Conference.

The executive board of ACT initially outlined a plan to have three components to fulfill its goal of reaching all members of the community, she said. The first component, which has been successfully mounted over the past few years, is the community theatre. The next addition to ACT has been ACT II, which is the children’s theatre component with director Connie Fritz. In the future, it is the executive’s board wish to add the final component, ACT on Edge, which will be a showcase for new local playwrights and shows with “a little more edge” to them, Norman said.

ACT II, the children and youth theatre, is in its second year and Fritz said she saw the vision for this theatre was to instill in young people the importance and appreciation of live theatre — “to educate and cultivate them as future performers and audience members,” she added.

This weekend ACT II will present “Children’s Letters to God,” which is a new musical based on the international best-selling book.

“Inspired by the letters of young people writing to ‘the Big G,’ Stuart Hample, the creator of the best selling book, has adapted ‘Children’s Letters to God’ from the page to the stage with music by David Evans (Birds of Paradise) and lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen (No Way to Treat a Lady),” said Fritz.

She said the musical is not specifically religious in nature but about children and various events in their lives that lead them to ask questions. The cast includes 37 actors and five crew members (5 to 18 years old) with 20 children who are new to ACT II, she said. Also, Ken Collier will be providing the accompaniment for the show.

Maegan Bair, 8, who is the assistant director for the show, said she felt like the show was going pretty good and her job as assistant director was to make sure people were quiet back stage and knew where they were supposed to be.

“It’s going to be really good,” she said.

Fritz has been taking the opportunity, during each ACT II production, to teach the children the basics of theatre, including stage directions, production, and acting. Some of the students were given responsibilities as “song captains,” which allowed them to choreograph a song and teach it to their group, she said.

“Parents are getting in on the action, too,” Fritz said.

During one of the songs in the show, parents can be heard shouting out “typical adult phrases” and some of the parents, volunteering to help back stage, have assisted with that as well, she said.

The performances will be on Friday, May 8, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, May 9, at 7 p.m., after the Arts Center Open House and Picnic. Tickets for the show can be purchased in advance today, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the theater box office and on Thursday, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the theater box office. They are $5.

The Arts Center Open House and Picnic will be from 5 to 7 p.m., on Saturday, with activities for families to take part in.

“Tours of the arts center will be available and live music from the ACT House Band will entertain everyone,” said Jeff Ophime, executive director of the arts center.

Singing with the ACT House Band, as a special guest, will be Meg Bishop.

Other activities will be chalk drawing, bubble blowing, and portrait sketches by Sally Shovar. Grilled chicken plates with all the sides, a drink, and a cinnamon roll, are also be on sale for $6. To purchase tickets in advance for the picnic, contact the arts center at 985-1922.