Thanks to some dedicated parents, staff and students, the Fort Dodge Senior High School fall play will definitely go on starting this Thursday in the Gail Niceswanger Little Theater.

This year’s play, “Once Upon a Fairy” will have performances at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Tickets are $6 each and will be available at the doors. No activities passes can be used.

This year’s production has been a unique one. Adviser Lindey Krug had to deal with the death of her father, long-time Fort Dodge teacher and coach Bob Breffle, who passed away on Oct. 26. He was in hospice for a while before his death, taking Krug away from the cast and crew. But she said they didn’t miss a beat while she was gone.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Sol Birkey, of Fort Dodge, performs as the Magic Mirror in “Once Upon a Fairy Tale” during rehearsals on Tuesday at Gail Niceswanger Theatre at Fort Dodge Senior High School.

“I needed to make the choice to be with him, obviously,” said Krug. “Because I have an amazing group of parents and an amazing group of kids and an amazing group of coworkers that all said ‘how can I help and what can I do?,’ it’s kept us going.”

Krug said the play itself is a typical fairy tale complete with two sisters who are of course opposites. One becomes a queen and the other becomes a witch, since she didn’t get the throne

The queen dies and her daughter can only take the crown after meeting her handsome prince, but her aunt, the witch, puts a spell on her that makes the daughter a “royal pain in the butt,” so no one will marry her.

Suitors line up to meet her, then find out they don’t really want to end up with her.

The cast includes more than three dozen students. Krug’s assistant director is Deidra Miller-Clay. There will also be opening and intermission music by senior Evan Pratt.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Owen Hamlow, of Fort Dodge, performs in “Once Upon a Fairy Tale” during rehearsals on Tuesday at Gail Niceswanger Theatre at Fort Dodge Senior High School.

“Theater is my passion and any time I can be involved in it is good,” said Krug. “But even more so right now. It provides me with some catharsis and a happy place. This is my happy place. This theater and these kids. They have helped me with all my emotions.”

Krug said they are down to the last minute details. A couple costumes arrived Monday and programs were printed Tuesday. She said a lot of people stepped up to make sure everything that needed to get done was finished.

“Things were a little stressful last Thursday and Friday without Krug, but Mrs. Miller-Clay was an amazing help in that time,” said senior Sydney Gebers, who has the role of Narrator 2 for the play. “People were trying their best to give feedback to everyone, causing lots of loud voices, but Mrs. Miller-Clay was able to calm us all down and get us to listen to one voice.

“This is my first fall play on stage, and everyone has stepped up this year,” she added. “Everyone has put lots of time and effort into this play so I’m excited to see the audience’s reaction.”

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Pictured from left, Simeon Robers, Leif Hamilton, Hailey Vogel and Abby Casciato perform in “Once Upon a Fairy Tale” during rehearsals on Tuesday at Gail Niceswanger Theatre at Fort Dodge Senior High School.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Manuela Rodriguez, of Fort Dodge, performs as Francine in “Once Upon a Fairy Tale” during rehearsals on Tuesday at Gail Niceswanger Theatre at Fort Dodge Senior High School.

-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla
Chris Hulsebus, of Fort Dodge, performs as Princess Rose in “Once Upon a Fairy Tale” during rehearsals on Tuesday at Gail Niceswanger Theatre at Fort Dodge Senior High School.