Thirty Midcoast students, grades three through eight, are spending their winter afternoons in rehearsal for a one-act version of “The Neverending Story,” based on the novel by Michael Ende, adapted by David S. Craig.

Co-directors Griff Braley (Heartwood artistic director) and Heidi Kopishke (Great Salt Bay teacher) are leading this second annual Heartwood/AOS93 collaboration.

Students primarily hail from Great Salt Bay, but also from homeschooling situations, Juniper Hill, Nobleboro Central, Bristol Consolidated and Camden Middle School.

Full technical support comes from Heartwood’s tech director, Letitia Munson, local artists Mary Boothby and Alex Braley, and the help of numerous parents of involved students.

In a land devoured by The Nothing, only one boy can save everything. All he must do is believe in Fantastica, believe in imagination and believe in himself.

Hiding in the attic of his school, Bastian begins to read a story of great adventure, and, unseen to him, the story begins to unfold.

The Land of Fantastica is in danger, as The Nothing engulfs everything in its path.

The Childlike Empress chooses an unlikely hero, Atreyu, a boy of Bastian’s age, to venture on a quest to save their world.

In a surprising turn of events, however, it is not Atreyu who is the hero, but Bastian, whose belief and action saves Fantastica.

Along the way, a wonderful array of characters appear, including Falkor the Luck Dragon, Artax the horse, Morla the Turtle, and Gmork, the werewolf.

Three public performances will wind up this adventure on Jan. 30 and 31 at 7 p.m. and Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Tickets are $5/students and $8/adults, all seating is unreserved. Tickets are available through Heartwood's box office at 207-563-1373 and boxoffice@heartwoodtheater.org, or its website, www.heartwoodtheater.org.