By Craig Horleman

DOVER — After 28 years with The Children’s Theatre, and 25 as a director, the curtain will come down on Patricia Beetschen’s tenure this weekend with “The Glass Slipper” at The Schwartz Center for the Arts.

The show, by Vera Morris, is based on the “Cinderella” fairy tale. Coincidentally, Ms. Beetschen got her start at The Children’s Theatre during another production of the well-known story.

“I was at that show when the person who was supposed to do makeup and hair for Cinderella’s stepsisters never showed up. Jim Rogin, who was one of the founders of Children’s Theatre, knew I had a daughter and asked me if I knew how to tease hair,” she said.

“So, I started teasing their hair, and I just got sucked in. It just holds such a special place in my heart. I started with ‘Cinderella,’ and I’m ending with ‘Cinderella.’”

This particular production is more based on the books than the familiar Disney iterations. Cinderella works in her nasty stepmother’s house, while her stepsisters, Brunhilda and Cleopatra, think they’re so beautiful that the prince will marry them both. But he spends most of the evening at a palace ball trying to escape from them.

This version also introduces some new characters: a fearless mouse, a timid cat and Pumpkinhead, who changes into a coach. And the fairy godmother is busy tutoring an apprentice but makes time for Cinderella, who is sent off to the ball.

In the more recognizable part of the story, Cinderella loses her glass slipper as she tries to escape before midnight. The prince vows to marry the girl whose foot fits the slipper, and romance blooms, with a twist at the end not displayed in Disney’s story.

“The whole theater is going to sparkle. It’s just going to be so magical. The fairy godmother is going to be in the garden, waving her wand to make the magic,” Ms. Beetschen said.

For “The Glass Slipper,” she is joined by assistant directors Katy Kress, Ace Clark and Cindy Atallian, along with co-producers Sharon Crossen and Quiana Nieves. Ms. Kress is Ms. Beetschen’s daughter and started acting with The Children’s Theatre when she was 8.

The cast has 35 players, an expanded number due to the large amount of children who tried out for the show. Ms. Beetschen added some dance scenes, accompanied by pianist Samuel Mace, to accommodate more actors.

“I just couldn’t turn any of the children down,” she explained.

“The Glass Slipper” will be Ms. Beetschen’s last production because she is moving out of the area. But she said she feels The Children’s Theatre is being left in good hands.

“I wouldn’t be leaving if I didn’t think that. I wouldn’t want this taken away from the children of the community. There really is nothing like it around that is just for the kids,” she said.

Her young actors said they are going to miss her.

“She really works on each detail to make it perfect. She works on character development a lot, and she helps you become more confident,” said Ellen Stratton, 13, of Dover, who plays Cleopatra.

Willow Eilers, 14, of Dover, portrays Brunhilda. Willow has appeared in a number of shows, both in and out of The Children’s Theatre, including with Milford’s Second Street Players. She credits Ms. Beetschen for the incentive to broaden her acting.

“If it wasn’t for Ms. Beetschen, I don’t think I would have been able to be where I am in the theater world. I don’t think I would be as good as I am now because she’s really helped me with my confidence on stage,” she said.

For the director’s final show, Avalon Hogan, 13, of Dover, plays Cinderella. It’s a role she’s cherishing.

“It’s like a dream come true. I’m so excited. This is amazing,” she said. “I grew up this huge Disney fan, and I’ve always wanted to play a Disney princess. And I love the character so much.”

Avalon said she admires the qualities of Cinderella.

“She’s just sweet, gentle, not aggressive — just a really good person,” she said.

Conversely, Margaret Shahan, 14, of Camden, plays the wicked stepmother.

“It’s definitely a fun part to play. It’s new because I’ve never played anything that’s evil before. But it’s pretty fun,” she said.

“She’s very serious. But she’s very proper. She’s very evil and almost passive aggressive toward Cinderella.”

For Hailey Atallian, 13, of Smyrna, playing the fairy godmother is a change of pace, as well.

“I’ve never had a role that’s not evil. It’s a nice role for once. So, I think it’s really fun. Don’t get me wrong: I love the evil roles. But it’s really fun to explore and do different roles, too,” she said.

She enjoys being a catalyst for the audience’s wonderment.

“(The godmother is) magical and very wise. She knows what she’s doing, and you can tell she’s been doing it for a very long time. And she is very sweet. But when she wants things done, she gets them done,” Hailey said.

Meantime, Dominic Hammond, 15, of Felton, gets the dashing role of the prince.

It’s his first play with The Children’s Theatre in over two years, his last portraying the king of the Winkies in “The Wizard of Oz” in May 2022.

“I just got busy and needed a little break. And also, my sister had just graduated (from high school), and I always did it with her. So, it was kind of like a ‘her and I’ thing, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it without her,” he said.

“But I saw they were doing this, and I realized I hadn’t done a play in a couple of years, and I missed it.”

He said he’s having a great time with the role, adding, “He’s a prince finding true love when he was looking for it.”

“The Glass Slipper” will be staged Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at The Schwartz Center for the Arts, 226 S. State St.

Those who come in costume will be invited on stage during intermission to meet the queen and prince.

Tickets can be purchased at the door or at thechildrenstheatre.org.