The Boys and Girls Club of Lincoln County is looking for a kingthis Christmas, and its young members are inviting all ofBrookhaven to join in the search.

The approximately 70 members of the club are all participatingin “A King is Coming to Town,” a modern-day Christmas musical aboutthe residents of a small town called Rumor’s Mill who investigate arumor that some sort of king – who eventually turns out to be Jesus- is on the way.

Club director Melanie Lewis said the play will be performed onSunday, Dec. 21 on the stage at Alexander Junior High School. Thecurtain goes up at 5 p.m.

The story, interspersed with Christmas carols new and old,follows a TV news reporter as she interviews Rumor’s Mill’s mayor,sheriff and residents about the forthcoming king.

The music takes on the themes of the search, changing styles asthe town finds its king by process of elimination – sorting throughElvis, Pharaoh and the king of the jungle before finally realizingthe approaching king is Jesus, the King of Kings.

“We felt like it was a fitting play, and one the kids wouldenjoy doing,” Lewis said of the play, the club’s first.

Lewis said the approximately hour and fifteen-minute play is thebiggest program ever attempted by the club, containing severalsongs and plenty of lines for the members to learn. She saidpractice has been ongoing every weekday since October – only afterthe children finish their academic work – in the late afternoons,with Saturday practices recently instituted.

Lewis said the steady practicing has brought out “hiddentalents” in several of the club’s members.

“The children have done very well – they’re excited aboutperforming the play for the community,” Lewis said. “We had a lotof shy ones at the start, but they’re building up, learning thosesongs and lines and they’re excited now.”

Lewis said the play would not only give the community a chanceto see its children perform, but is helping fulfill the club’smission of building self-esteem in its members.

Brookhaven Police Department captain and club president BobbyBell said such personal improvement is the most important aspect ofthe play and the club, and such activities are what he envisionedfor the club long ago.

“It’s encouraging them, motivating them and giving them thefeeling of, ‘I can do it – I can be successful,'” he said. “If thechildren see they are doing well here, they will pass it on, andthat’s what the club is all about it. If we serve them, they’llserve somebody else and keep it going when we’re not aroundanymore.”

Bell said he hopes the performance will encourage Brookhavenitesto give to the club, even in the midst of difficult economic times.It doesn’t have to be just money, he said – the club is alwayslooking for high school students, retired teachers and “anyoneinterested in helping the kids excel” to donate time by mentoringand tutoring.

And while the play’s set and props are under construction, a fewmore costumes are needed. Anyone willing to donate time or helpproduce costumes for the set may contact the club at601-835-2218.

The club is open every weekday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and playpractice usually begins around 4:45 p.m.