PARIS — The annual Christmas for Teens fundraising show will benefit both needy students and homeless animals this year.

“There is a tragic need for help for quite a few teens in the Oxford Hills area. There is also an urgent need for help for homeless animals,” show director Cynthia Wescott said.

Christmas for Teens, a volunteer Right Start program, has been helping needy teenage students over the age of 13 at the Oxford Hills Middle School and the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School for many years.

The Christmas for Teens Show has been produced for the past 12 years. Last year alone some 165 students in grades 7 through 12 were assisted. About $36,000 has been raised over the last decade for the program. Money is raised through the annual show, donations to the program and sponsorship of individual students.

This year, organizers decided to help needy cats from the Responsible Pet Care Shelter in Norway.

“This particular year has been unusually difficult with people having to give up their animals from lack of money to support them,” Wescott said. “We have over 60 cats and kittens in foster home care and 85 felines in the shelter. With pregnant cats giving birth in the shelter, the enrollment can increase to 100 until foster care can be found.”

Wescott called this year’s benefit show a “creative production with exciting and expressive music,” presented by the benefit chorus, guest performers, animal showoffs and an intriguing storyline written by Wescott and Pat Jillson.

Wescott said the storyline involves three cats — Roz and Whiskers, who now live in New York City and Trixie who lives in Norway. They were all adopted from Responsible Pet Care. In the play, Whiskers becomes lost in the city when her owner dies. Trixie and Roz meet at Grand Central Station to search for Whiskers. They visit places such as a synagogue, a party at a brownstone mansion, a homeless teen center and an animal shelter. They complete their journey at a cathedral. At each location, Wescott said, the cats enjoy music selections or dance routines.

“While searching for Whiskers, they find a great deal of activity on the streets, which is provided by creative students,” she said.

The cast is still being set. Wescott said auditions for animals will be held on Friday, Nov. 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Forum.

Performances will be held on Friday, Dec. 2, at 7 p.m. and on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 2 p.m.

Tickets for the shows may be purchased at the door, from Books ‘N Things on Main Street in Norway or from Valhalla School Store. Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and students in grades kindergarten through 12.

The show is directed by Cynthia Wescott; accompanist is Virginia Noble. Assistant director is Sally Riman. Production assistants are Pat Jillson and Jennifer St.Pierre. Creative lighting designer is Al Wescott. Sound is by Jim Riman. Kanine Kare of South Paris will be directing the animal actors.

ldixon@sunjournal.com