By Alexandria Bennett | Staff WriterAntoine de Saint-Exupéry’s novella, “The Little Prince,” is coming to Augusta University in the form of a whimsical adaptation from March 17 to March 20 at the Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre on the Summerville campus. This theatre AUG production is presented by the Augusta University Department of Communications and is adapted and directed by Melanie O’Meara, an assistant professor of communications. “The Little Prince” is one of the greatest children’s stories of the 20th century and is available in about 253 languages and dialects, according to thelittleprince.com. The story is centered on the journey of an aviator whose plane crashes in the Sahara Desert. He then meets a young boy who goes by the name of “the little prince.” The focal point of the story pertains to the inability of adults to comprehend and appreciate childhood creativity. Cast members of this production aspire to portray the story in such a way that breaks the boundaries between adulthood and the mysteries of being a child, according to cast member Benjamin Evans.Benjamin Evans, a sophomore communications major, is the lead aviator and narrator of “The Little Prince.”“I hope the audience finds the real message and can appreciate the story,” Evans said. “It’s my hope that the adults especially are encouraged to take on life in a more relaxed way.” From 2D costumes to animated pop-ups to the design aspects, “The Little Prince” is jam-packed with creativity, which is just how O’Meara said she likes it. O’Meara said she is excited to direct such a play that is near and dear to her heart and expressed how vital it is for everyone to tap into their individual creativity. “Whether young or old, jaded or not, I think it’s important to tap back into that wonder,” O’Meara said. “This story reminds us to see the world through the eyes of a curious child, and that is what we’re trying to do with this production.” One of the highlights in putting this production together is the amazing team of cast members O’Meara gets to work with. O’Meara said she is proud of every cast member and stated how inspired she is by their hard work and creative eye in each of their roles. Allison Berres, a sophomore communications major, plays “the little prince.” She said this is the best experience she has had with a character. “This role is teaching me a lot. I’m learning that I shouldn’t always be so serious,” Berres said. “I’m learning to be wary of others and how important it is to not get lost in yourself.”“The Little Prince” has a creative story line that is bound to impact individuals from all walks of life. “I want this production to be a memory for everyone,” O’Meara said. “Just how ‘The Little Prince’ inspired me in my adult life, I hope it does the same for everyone else – whether adult, teenager or child.”Contact Alexandria Bennett at: abenne19@gru.edu.