SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford College theatre instructor Kerry Ferguson and her Theatre for Youth class meet every other spring to brainstorm, write, rehearse and fully produce a new play for children over the course of just one semester. This year’s world premiere, “Write! Run! Rock!,” follows in the colorful and creative footsteps of the class’s 2014 hit, “Jeremy Gourd is Bored, Bored, Bored.” The play opens Thursday, May 5.

“All semester long we study and discuss child culture and the roots of what has become the enormous genre of theatre for youth,” Ferguson says. “Then, inspired by everything we have learned, we create a topical tale that the students in the class then bring to life on stage. I write the script, then they do pretty much everything else.”

In this new play with music, the audience meets three brave elementary school kids – Rita, Rosie and Rex – who have decided, rather than waiting until they are all grown up, to make today the day they live out their dreams. Rita wants to write the kind of stories she has fallen in love with in all of her books; Rosie wants to run races and maybe even win some; and Rex wants to perform on a big stage and pour his heart into his own rockstar-dom.

These are certainly little kids with big dreams. The trouble is, none of them really knows where to start ... and all of them are dealing with obstacles typical not only to their age, but to anyone attempting something challenging and new.

Thank goodness Windy, a mystical and magical lady (who happens to be 467 years old), suddenly appears out of nowhere to advise the children with her wisdom ... and some super-catchy songs. With her help, Rita, Rosie and Rex set off trying to live their dreams now, before all that boring and monotonous stuff of grownup-hood takes over.

With colorful costumes, a talented cast of Wofford actors, and a little bit of magic, “Write! Run! Rock!” is a fun and funny story of overcoming obstacles and the power of kids.

“Write! Run! Rock!” is a show that can be enjoyed by anyone who is currently a kid and anyone who has ever been a kid in the past. All ages are welcome.

This year, tickets are FREE but seating is limited, so visit the box office at wofford.edu/boxoffice to ensure that you get a seat to this brand new play.

Tickets also will be available at the Tony White Theater box office a half-hour before each show begins. The show runs about one hour and will be performed at 6 p.m. Thursday, May 5, and Friday, May 6, and 10:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, May 7.

The Tony White Theater is located in the Campus Life Building on the Wofford College campus.