Just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, when most people will be planning to spend time at home with their families, the Penn State Thespians are bringing the musical Children of Eden to campus. The play is based around Genesis in the first nine chapters of the Bible. While the play is religiously oriented, its purpose is centered on discovering the intricacies of family dynamics rather than preaching Bible stories.

"The theme is about family," director Zach Vosseler said. "Everyone has different families or families of friends. Two families separated by 1,000 years still share the same difficulties."

The musical will focus on familial structures from Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel to Noah and the Ark and their relationships to God as his children.

Father, played by Chad Elder (senior-marketing) the Penn State Thespians vice-president, is the main character. Father is essentially the figure of God throughout the play.

"The musical takes a classical story and gives it more of a human face," Elder said. "It portrays God as the father figure and shows the parent-child relationship. The audience can actually connect with the characters."

In addition, the complexity of fate versus free will is an eminent theme throughout the musical.

"The big lesson of the show is that when you love something you have to let it go," Elder said. "God has a vision of perfection, but it doesn't leave room for his children's own choices. To truly love his children, he has to let them make their own choices."

Though based on ancient biblical stories, the dialogue and presentation will be modern.

"The music will be a mixture," Vosseler said. "It will be typical Broadway music and ballads. There will be R&B, gospel, 1920's jazz and some rock."

Many of the students are members of the Oriana Singers, Concert Choir and the Singing Lions. However, not all of the actors in the musical are students.

"There are only seven or eight members," Vosseler said. "Anyone can audition. The only way to become a member is to become involved."

The cast will consist of a range of ages.

"The cast is made up of about 21 or 22 people," said Kendra Harmison, who is the assistant stage manager. "Most are students, but there are four young girls from the local area and one State College High School student."

Written by John Caird and composed by Steven Schwartz, Children of Eden will be performed at 8 p.m. today through Saturday at Schwab Auditorium. Tickets are $7 for students and $9 for the general public with a $1-per-ticket discount for groups of 15 or more. Tickets can be purchased at the information desk in the HUB-Robeson Center, Eisenhower Auditorium, or the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center, 146 S. Allen St.