"This is a home to the kids in the play," seventh grade teacher and school play director, Jessica Manmiller said. "It's become a place where we hold each other up."

And, these sentiments are echoed by the young casts members of "Dr. Doolittle," as well.

"It's an escape from the hard times we have at school and at home," said Autumn Rose Colalillo, 12, who plays Polynesia the Parrot in the Craig Sodaro version of this classic children's tale of a kind English doctor with the ability to talk to animals.

The actress playing Dab Dab the Duck, Celine Boycheck, agrees.

"I've been acting since I was really young and I like it because I get to become a different person than who I am in real life," Boycheck said. "Sometimes, life at school and at home can be stressful but being in the play lets you release all of your stress."

Many of these young actors have been around the theater all their lives.

"The theater runs in my family," said Elizabeth Gonzalez, 13, who plays Jip the dog. "My great-grandfather owned a music store so my mom and my grandmom both worked there and eventually became actresses and singers."

The young actress admits to having music in her blood.

"I've been singing since I could talk and I'm constantly humming a tune," she said. "I have gotten into trouble for humming in class so many times, but I can't really help it. The people in play understand me more than anyone else. That's why I love it so much. It's like being with my own family."

Even the theme of the play revolves around family and helping each other out.

Chee-Chee the Monkey, played by 13-year-old Mustafa Qayyum of Allentown, is a monkey that comes to Dr. Dolittle for help in the Sodaro version of the Dolittle story.

All the other monkeys are sick with the plague and he doesn't know where else to turn.

In the beginning of the story, Chee-Chee is a bit of a snob, but once Dr. Dolittle saves his family, his attitude changes and his character realizes all creatures are the same; no one is better than the other.

Qayyum finds being in the theater has helped him make friends and these friends are like family.

"One hidden aspect of the play is that people aren't so different," Qayyum explained. "My family comes from Pakistan and sometimes people make me feel like I'm different but in play everyone's the same.

"That's why I like it. Our differences are kind of what make us the same and Miss Manmiller says we should embrace our uniqueness."

Manmiller encourages her students to be kind to one another just like in the story.

Dr. Dolittle eventually does save all of the monkeys and Chee-Chee is forever changed for it.

"Sometimes it takes a big event to make you open your eyes," Qayyum said. "In the play, it's the plague, but in real life it can be anything that makes you see things differently."

Twins, Meg and Courtney Sicinski, play the two-headed llama in the story, Pushmi-Pullyu.

"People can be so judgmental and mean at times, says Courtney, when speaking about the manner in which people treat her unique character. "I just wish people would learn how to be nicer to people who are a little different," added sister Megan.

Manmiller, who not only teaches seventh grade literacy and runs the theater program, also co-directs the TV studio.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm a two-headed llama with all of the hats I wear. "I start my day at the TV studio and then spend after school with the play.

"But the kids are what keep me going. We are really like a family and it's the kids who have made it this way."

If the kids are asked, however, it all starts with Manmiller.

"She is the best director because she treats all of the kids with respect," said Noah Erlemann, 12. "I joined the play because I liked making so many new friends. In school, everyone is divided into separate groups, but in the play we are all one big family."

"Dr. Dolittle" will be performed 8 p.m. Oct. 25 and 2 p.m. Oct. 26 at Springhouse Middle School. Doors open a half-hour prior to the show. Seating is on a first-come, first-seated basis.