AUBURN — Community Little Theatre’s 71st season will open Friday, Oct. 8, with “Children of Eden,” a show with singing, dancing, pageantry and narrators moving the story along.

Though bible-based, the play, written by Stephen Schwartz, composer of “Pippin,” “Godspell” and the smash hit “Wicked,” is neither preachy nor heavy-handed.

Narrators will take audiences through the first nine books of the Old Testament, from the creation of Earth and through the flood and its aftermath.

Act II begins with a rousing reggae/calypso number celebrating all the generations that have passed from Adam to Noah, where the story picks up with the building of the Ark and the arrival of the animals.

Jonathan Carr is director with Mitchell Clyde Thomas as musical director; Sanielle Sicotte, choreographer; and Paul Bell, producer and stage manager.

Cast members are Richard Messana as Father; Gregory Charette as Adam/Noah; Katie St. Pierre as Eve; Jason Hersom as Cain and Andre Demers as Abel; Tiffany Warren as Mama Noah; Alycia Hawley as Yonah; Andreas Wyder as Japeth; Ben Proctor as Shem; Stefanie Lynn as Aprah; Max Middleton as Ham; and Reinette Bryant as Aysha.

Storytellers include Tracy Kapocius, Ruthe Burke, Bruce Bickford, Irma Penn, Patty Vieta, Patrick Austin, Zack Fisher, Sabrina Fisher, Riley McCurdy, Hayden Thomas, Elias Thomas, Sophie Wood, Emily Burke, Kelcie Brown, Debby Mansur, Vicki D. Roy, Jacynthe Jacques, Gabriel Jacques, Emma Jacques, Laura Jacques, Jacob Weeks, Kristy Macomber and Nakesha Myrick.

Production crew members are Christine Leach, co-costumer; Sue Finch, lighting design; Larry French, sound; Jake Spellman, lobby photos; Rachel Morin, publicity; and Paul G. Caron and Norma Rice-Gould, rehearsal pianists.

The play will run through Oct.17 at Great Falls Art Center, 30 Academy St. Advance tickets, $16, may be reserved by calling 783-0958 or visiting www.laclt.com.