Nearly 500 local elementary and high school students were treated to a free performance of the Andrews University Department of Music’s operetta performance, “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” on Thursday.

Students from Andrews Academy, Ruth Murdoch Elementary School, Village Adventist School and several homeschool families filled the seats of the Howard Performing Arts Center to see this delightful story about a crippled boy focused on the Three Wise Men’s search for the baby Jesus come to life before their eyes. Department of Music students used this free performance for local school children as their final preparation for their two main productions this weekend.

A repeat offering of the free performance is scheduled for today. Nearly 500 students from the Berrien Springs public school system are expected to attend.

These free performances for local schools is in preparation for the main productions on Saturday at 8 p.m. and concluding on Sunday at 4 p.m. Both performances are in the Howard Performing Arts Center on the campus of Andrews University. Cast members include Nina Menezes, Alice Hyde, Jonathan Logan, Stephanie Mauer, Ryan Clough, Jeremy McIntyre, Vernon Ng, Joshua Goines, Juan Carlos Rodriguez and Andres Lam. Julia Lindsay, assistant professor of music, is the director of this production.

Tickets are $10 for general admission, $8 for senior citizens and free to Andrews students and children 12 and under. For tickets, call the Howard Box Office at (269) 471-3560.

Founded in 1874, Andrews University is the flagship institution of higher education for the Seventh-day Adventist church, located one-half mile east of the U.S. 31 Bypass in Berrien Springs.