DOVER — Have you met the famous Jack Spriggins?

You may know him better as just plain Jack, as in “Jack and the Beanstalk.”

Either way, your opportunity to get acquainted with the chap (he’s an Englishman, you know) is coming this weekend, as The Children’s Theater Inc. presents “Jack and the Magic Beans.”

The curtain rises at Dover’s Schwartz Center for the Arts on Saturday at 7 p.m. A second staging is set for Sunday at 2 p.m.

Jack will be bringing a dozen-and-a-half friends to the stage with him — familiar characters like a dancing cow, a magic bean-seller, an hysterical chicken, a singing harp and a giant. Some zany villagers and the silly kitchen staff at the giant’s castle will join them.

The production is being directed by Patricia Beetschen, who is well acquainted with bringing fairytale characters like these to life in an orderly fashion. She has worked with The Children’s Theater since her own daughter was 8 and has stayed involved for 25 years because, as she said this week, “It makes me happy.

“I love involving children from the community and that there is a place where grandmas can bring their 5- to 8-year-old grandchildren to a Sunday matinee,” she said.

She also loves castles and princesses. Not surprisingly, “Jack and the Magic Beans” has both. The story revives some elements of the tale’s first publication in 1734, as “The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean,” embellished “to capture today’s audience and to encourage them to ‘think of the possibilities,’ as the bean-seller says,” according to Ms. Beetschen.

The bean-seller — played by 8-year-old Austen Lefort of Wyoming — is one of the youngest members of the cast. Austen has been looking forward to passing out beans and throwing glitter at least since rehearsals began less than five weeks ago.

Normally, a show like this is in rehearsals for eight to nine weeks. However, because this production was scheduled and subsequently canceled in late 2020, the theater company decided to follow through with it in a summer play. Grants from both the Kent County Fund for the Arts and the Delaware Division of the Arts ensured that the “show must go on.”

As challenging as that may seem, everyone at this week’s dress rehearsal was optimistic. Jack, in particular, is a notorious optimist. Played by Alex Tullis, 11, of Magnolia, his main problem is really the giant.

“He’s trying to hold the queen hostage from the people in the village, who don’t have a lot of money,” Alex said.

How does Jack solve the problem? “I get rid of him and take the chicken that lays golden eggs.”

This sounds simple enough, but the giant poses a formidable challenge. While Jack is a clever sort, the giant is much larger and meaner-looking than he is. How will Jack ever pull it off?

The giant hinted at a conspiracy. “I have servants who cater to me, do whatever I say. I’m pleased with them,” boasts the character, played by Justin Truitt, 14, of Dover.

How then? “They help Jack steal the key to the queen’s cell,” Justin said, adding that his role is vocally challenging, with all the growling going on. That growling joins strobing lights during Jack and the giant’s fight scene.

Indeed, there will be plenty of growling by both the giant and another imposing figure, the troll, played by Demetrius Ward, 14, of Dover.

Demetrius — along with his sisters, 16-year-old Gabrielle (the giant’s housekeeper) and 10-year-old Jordan (Lady Stumblemum) — makes his debut in the production. Younger brother Elijah, 6, is an understudy for all of them, but would choose to be the giant if the opportunity presented itself.

Their mother, Latina Ward, called the show “godsent,” explaining that the family moved here with the Air Force from places which offered more activities.

“My kids love it. It’s been the kind of experience that makes us glad we’re here. The teachers, instructors, directors are all great with the kids,” she said.

The other members of the production team agreed that Mrs. Ward has been a tremendous help in many ways.

In bringing a fairytale to life, everyone pitches in to meet each challenge with optimism and creativity. There are times when you may not know how it’s going to work out, but you know that it will.

The cast and crew of “Jack and the Magic Beans” know, for example, that even big challenges — like a cow costume, ordered in July that is still being held up in customs — will be resolved by show time.

The drama is real.

Tickets are $10 and available through Eventbrite.com or at the door. The Schwartz Center is at 226 S. State St., Dover.

Dee Emeigh is a freelance writer living in Milford.