Courtesy photo Rehearsing a scene for the Altoona Area Junior High School’s upcoming production of “Beetlejuice, Jr.” are (from left): Darren Focht (Adam Maitland), Delilah Laich (Barbara Maitland), Molly Laird (Delia Schlimmer), Colin Amrhein (Charles Deetz), Ava DeGennaro (Lydia Deetz), Campbell Fleegle (Beetlejuice), Carter Monahan (Juno), Emma Harshbarger (Maxine Dean) and Gavin Lutz (Maxie Dean).

The Altoona Area Junior High School Drama Club will present “Beetlejuice, Jr.” with nearly 90 students participating.

Public performances are scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5, and Friday, March 6, with a matinee show at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 7. A Senior Citizen Preview will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 4. All performances will take place in the Altoona Area Junior High School auditorium.

Based on the hit Broadway musical and the beloved Tim Burton film, “Beetlejuice, Jr.” follows Lydia Deetz, a bright and unconventional teenager who is fascinated by the strange and unusual.

After her family moves into a new home, Lydia encounters a recently deceased couple who are struggling to adjust to the afterlife — and a mischievous, unpredictable character named Beetlejuice who is determined to cause chaos.

What unfolds is a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud adventure filled with quirky characters, heartfelt moments and show-stopping musical numbers. At its core, the story explores themes of belonging, grief, family and the importance of being true to yourself.

The show is being directed and produced by drama club faculty advisers Stacy Palilla and Jordan Giordano, along with technical director Lindsay Smith.

General admission tickets will only be on sale at the door and will cost $10 for adults and $5 for ages 17 and younger.

The doors will open approximately 45 minutes before each show.