By By JAMES COLLINS / Niles Daily Star
NILES -- The Four Flags Players' production this weekend might be your last chance to catch Megan and Elizabeth Mace before they hit it big.
The 11-year-old Niles twins love the performing arts and have their sights set high for future fame
But, for now the two St. Mary's sixth graders are busy preparing for this Sunday's "The Music and Magic of Disney," which will be performed at the Riverfront Park amphitheater at 6 p.m.
The production, which is part of Niles' summer concert series, will include a collection of popular song and dance numbers from Disney films.
On Wednesday evening, the cast of about 10 performers were working with director Cindy Antos to nail the lyrics and choreography of Beauty and the Beast's "Be Our Guest."
The twins' involvement with the Four Flags Players is also significant because it marks the first time that children of one of the original members will perform with the revived community theater group.
Their mother Mary Maiers was one of the founding members of the old Four Flags Players in the 1970s and was even a performer in its first production "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown."
When she heard that her old community theater group was back in existence, she encouraged her daughters to get involved, not that it took much encouraging.
Whether it is singing, dancing or acting, the twins have loved performing for a very long time. They were doing karaoke as toddlers and attended a performing arts class at the age of seven, when they were living in California.
Since returning to Niles, the sisters have been very active with the performing arts here.
They wrote and performed a school play called "Once Upon a Disney" and collaborated for a talent show last year at St. Mary's.
They were also part of the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat production at Niles High School and participated in the Young Americans tour stop in Niles in January.
The girls are excited about the resurgence of a community theater group and the opportunities it will provide for them.
Maiers said community theater is a great way to gain performance experience.
"They love to perform so much and this is such a great outlet for them," she said. "It is a great opportunity for local talent to get the experience of being in front of an audience."
Maiers said she has very fond memories and made a lot of good friends while she was involved with the group years ago.
She is even considering getting involved with one of the group's upcoming productions.
The Four Flags Players third and final installment with the summer concert series "Down By the River" will take place on August 15.
Auditions for this production featuring songs related to water, rivers and lakes will take place at the old Elk's building, on Third Street in downtown Niles, on Monday and Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m.