This weekend, Tut's tomb is much more than a card game when Theatreworks/USA, the traveling children's theater group, brings the production The Mystery of King Tut to Eisenhower Auditorium.

The musical chronicles the reign of King Tutankhamen, the young Egyptian ruler from the 14th century B.C., from its beginning until it abruptly ended with his mysterious death.

Intertwined with this story will be the story of archaeologist Howard Carter's efforts to uncover the sacred tomb of the boy king.

"It really brings two eras to life," said Patrick Dwyer, assistant to the managing director of Theatreworks, referring to Tut's and Carter's eras.

"They both make a mark on history," he added, "in different ways."

Laura Sullivan, spokeswoman for the Center of the Performing Arts, said the performance, like other Theatreworks productions, is geared towards both education and entertainment.

"The purpose is to educate in a fun way," she said, "rather than just through a textbook."

In addition to Sunday's performance, Theatreworks will also perform the show for local school students on Monday.

Barbara Sandek, marketing director for Theatreworks, said the show holds a lot of educational value.

"People who know about history learn things they never knew," she said, adding that teachers who take their students to the production are given a study guide to help facilitate the educational experience.

Dwyer said the show's targeted age group is students in the second through ninth grades.

"But I'm 20 and I think it's a great show," he said.

Sullivan echoed Dwyer's belief that Tut could appeal to a broad audience base.

"Anyone who's in theater or music or education might find it helpful to get the experience of seeing what children's theater is like," she said.

Sullivan added that audience observation is another bonus at Theatreworks events.

"Kids seeing live theater for the first time are amazed at everything," Sullivan said.

Sandek said children will probably "ooh" and "ahh" at the spectacle, especially at the scene in which Tut's tomb is discovered, and the play's humor will please children as well.

Twenty-five students from the Mount Nittany Middle School 7th grade will be among the participants in Monday's matinee. Amy Barnhart, an art teacher at the school, will be one of the moderators for the field trip.

"It's a great opportunity for the students to see something that heightens their awareness," Barnhart said about going to the Eisenhower production.

"Students are so used to being stimulated by TV and video games, that standing in the front of the room and lecturing just doesn't work so well anymore."

Tickets for the hour-long event are $9 and there is plenty of orchestra-level seating still available.