AUBURN — “Chosen: Adoption Stories,” a new play by Linda Britt that explores the difficulties and rewards of adoption, opens Saturday, Jan. 21, at UU Theater at the First Universalist Church.

With a large cast of actors portraying adoptees, adoptive parents, birth parents and wannabe adoptive parents, the play is a narrative of the twists and turns and emotional extremes of the adoption process.

Britt said the play comes from her personal perspective, with additional fictionalized material. It began, Britt said, when her adopted daughter, now a young adult, lost contact with her birth parents and was writing about it for a speech class assignment.

“How many other stories are there?” Britt thought. Her daughter’s piece became the basis for a series of stories told in monologues, and Britt’s adopted daughter, Sydney Browne, is among the show’s cast members.

There are always several people on stage. As one person speaks, the actors in tableau on the stage provide continuity and offer “some hints of what’s to come,” Britt said.

Their stories, ranging from heartbreaking to joyful, are all woven together.

In the first monologue, “About Us,” a young couple, portrayed by Ryan Adair and Vicki Machado, make their pitch to birth mothers everywhere to choose them as parents for their babies.

In the final monologue, “Adoption Day,” Gerry Therrien and Michelle Washburn tell a happily-ever-after story.

All told, there are 23 monologues, including “My Other Child,” “Born to Be a Dad,” “Grandmother by Proxy,” “The Phone Call” and “How I Met My Mother.”

Others in the cast are Cheryl Reynolds, Mark Hazard, Michael Litchfield, Michelle Jacobus, Jackie McDonald, Anna Cyr, Dante Baskett, Luka Baskett, Drew Masse and Susan Brown.

The production crew includes Stan Spilecki, set and light designer; Pat Phillips, producer; Rachel Morin, publicist; Jeff Soifer, poster designer; Steve Mortimer, projection designer; and Melody Driscoll, prompter.

Representatives from local adoption agencies will be present after each show to provide information for anyone interested in adopting.

Britt said her play is a production of Out of the Box Theater, which usually stages its productions at the Downstage facilities of L/A Arts in Lewiston. She said the UU Theater offers more seating and the message of the play is well suited to the Auburn group and venue.

“Chosen: Adoption Stories” is scheduled for Jan. 21-22 and 28-29. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. The First Universalist Church is at 169 Pleasant St. Tickets, $10, may be purchased by calling L/A Arts at 782-7228 or logging on to www.laarts.org.