UNIVERSITY PLAYERS TO PRESENT `SANTA'S BEEN KIDNAPPED'

"Santa's Been Kidnapped," an original play written and directed by Southeast Missouri State University student George Kralemann, will be presented Friday and Saturday.

Proceeds will go to flood victims.

The annual Christmastime benefit by the University Players will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Rose Theatre on campus.

Admission is $1 plus a donation of non-perishable food, or $2 without the food.

The story concerns a little girl, played by Kira Birr, who goes to sleep before Christmas and wakes up to discover that Santa's been kidnapped by an evil wizard.

The little girl sets out to rescue him, and some dance numbers set to Christmas songs ensue.

The production is family-oriented, said Shannon Curtis, who heads the organization. "It won't scare anyone. It's a lot of fun."

This is the first time the University Players have done an original play as their benefit, Curtis said.

The entire show, which has a cast of 15, is student-produced. "This is the one show we get to do during the year that is entirely our own," Curtis said.

"This is a special show to us," she added. "We're trying to give something back to the community. Everything for the show is done out of love."

Proceeds will be divided among the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the Humane Society. Curtis said the organization wanted to help the animals affected by last summer's flood as well.