For the third summer in a row, Allentown Public Theatre (APT) presents its production for children and families at St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 417 N. Seventh St., Allentown.

"Charlotte's Web" will be staged at 6 p.m. July 24, 31 and 2 p.m. July 25, 26 and Aug. 1 and 2.

"Charlotte's Web," based on the E.B. White novel, was adapted for the stage by Joseph Robinette with White's help. The characters include: Wilbur, an innocent young pig who wishes only to make friends; Fern, a girl who knows what she wants and fights for it; Templeton, the gluttonous rat who can occasionally be talked into a good deed; the Zuckermans and the Arables, who learn a thing or two about the value of life, and Charlotte, who is determined to save Wilbur with the magic of her web.

Teague Fernandez, who last year played Mowgli in APT's "The Jungle Book," directs "Charlotte's Web." The cast, some of whom play multiple roles, includes Marian Barshinger (Charlotte), Emily Peiffer (Wilbur), Cheryl Moritz (Fern), Justin Ariola (Templeton), Bill Joachim (Uncle Homer, Sheep) and Thomas Rush (Fair Official, Uncle, Gander).

Fernandez notes that "Charlotte's Web" is about "using our imagination," so he wants to get the audience to use theirs. One way he's doing that is by letting the action spill off the stage and around and into the audience. "At one point, Lurvy [a farmhand] chases Wilbur into the woods, and the audience is asked to imagine they are the trees," he says.

"The fair scene will really be interactive," he adds, "as the play's setting will surround the audience. For the county fair set, we plan to rent some fair games for people to play during the scene change, and we'll have a working popcorn machine and hot dogs. So, people will really feel the fun and excitement of the fair."

The play runs about one hour. The show is free for children age 12 and under, and pay-what-you-will for adults and teens. Off-street and on-street parking is available at the church.

Performances are sponsored by the Center City Initiative (funded by Air Products, Butz Corp., City Center Investment Corp., National Penn, PPL, Susquehanna Bank and Wells Fargo), the County of Lehigh, Just Born, Inc., St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Target, and the Trexler Trust.

information: AllentownPublicTheatre.com