(Walnut Ridge, Ark.) – Next week, the Williams Baptist College Theatre program and the Northeast Arkansas Educational Cooperative will produce The Story Store, a play for area elementary students. The Story Store has been entertaining local students for nearly fifteen years.

The production takes Gifted and Talented students’ stories from the 12 different schools in the NEA Education Cooperative district andturns them into plays, allowing the young people to see their stories come to life on stage.

This year, the students wrote to the provided theme of “role reversals.” Out of the 45 stories submitted, 20 stories were chosen and made into the production.

The idea for The Story Store started when Melinda Williams, director of the production, went to a conference where she learned about a similar type of event. With the help of Rebecca Jones, former gifted and talented coordinator for Sloan-Hendrix High School, and Jill Clogston of the Northeast Arkansas Co-op, Williams managed to turn the idea of The Story Store into a reality.

Hannah Morgan, a junior at WBC and an actor in the production, said, “I love the energy and enthusiasm that goes into The Story Store. I also enjoying performing for the kids; it’s really fun.”

“I often receive notes from teachers around the area,” added Williams. “They tell me how much their students loved the project, and I believe it is also good for my WBC students. A few years ago my daughter was in the production, and she ended up being recognized around town by different students, more than a year later. That’s neat.”

The Story Store will be performed for local school children at the Walnut Ridge Community Center on Feb. 13. Show times are set for 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.