Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland will present the new and original American musical, “Tom Sawyer: A Ballet,” in the MainStage Theater from Thursday, Feb. 20, to Sunday, Feb. 23.

Presented with a live orchestra, this original adaptation of the Mark Twain classic is both a visual and musical experience, exploring the charm and vitality of youth by telling the story of a boy’s passage from childhood to his teenage years. The music’s wit and beauty blends perfectly with the grace and playfulness of Twain’s novel, according to a news release.

Jennifer Verba, the play’s director and choreographer, said this is only the second time the musical is being performed, because Lincoln Park purchased sets and costumes from the ballet’s original run in Kansas City.

According to Verba, the ballet conveys the messages of the book through song, dance and the expression of movement.

“The music is so beautiful, it really is stunning,” Verba said. “There's a lot of learning objectives in this ballet. Individual and society, innocence and experience and also superstitions and religion. These are things in the book but also things portrayed in the ballet.”

Tickets start at $18 and are available by visiting LincolnParkArts.org, or by calling the box office at 724-576-4644.

“If you have never experienced a ballet before, this is the one to see,” Fortunato said.