“Oliver Twist” is well known as a novel and theater show, but many performances don’t cast a female actor as Oliver.

Yet Pacelli Catholic Schools’ version of “Oliver!” will feature Emma Keenan in the title role of the musical, which will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursday to Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Pacelli auditorium.

Although there were many good candidates for the role of Oliver, director Cameron Davis said the sixth-grader’s personality was just a good fit.

“We just needed to find somebody with a really strong voice and the personality to pull it off,” Davis said.

The musical, based on Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” tells a story about orphans at a workhouse. After working up the courage to ask for more food at suppertime, the workhouse owner kicks Oliver to the street. He then goes on different adventures, getting involved with a gang of children pickpockets, finding a nice home, dodging beatings and murder, and finding good in the world. With some characters trying to rob Oliver of his future for their own gain, the musical is one grand adventure.

Davis has been directing plays at Pacelli for two years. He was excited about the prospect of doing a musical.

“It seemed like a good fit; it’s got a lot of kids’ roles,” Davis said. “It worked pretty well.”

There are about 40 students in the play, which as Davis said, is a significant portion of the student body at Pacelli. Yet he said the students are enjoying working on the production.

“The kids have really embraced it,” he said.

The cast is made up of children in third grade through seniors in high school. Jan Muzik is the musical director. At age 75, she is teaching music again after a 12-year hiatus from Pacelli, where she taught from 1973 to 2001. She was asked to come back both last and this year.

Every student in the play gets a chance to sing, whether as part of a group or a solo. Davis was excited that the students get a chance to experience musical theater.

“I think that it’s good for students who want to be involved in theater to be exposed to different types of theater,” Davis said.

Yet it’s not only for students who hope for a future in theater. Davis said every student can gain something from being involved in a production like this.

“Theater really helps students develop a sense of self-confidence and help them with the ability to get up and speak in front of groups,” he said.

This is the first musical Davis has directed at Pacelli, and it has been in the works for about six months. Davis hopes the audience also enjoys the show, and gets the sense that they aren’t only seeing a “school” production, but that they are seeing something that has professional theater quality.

“I hope they really enjoy this experience,” Davis said. “More than anything I just want the kids to have fun.”

Tickets can be purchased in advance through Nov. 19 and are $10 for adults, $5 for students and $25 for a family with a maximum of two adults and four children in the same household. Premium seats cost $25 per seat. Tickets will also be sold at the door for $12 for adults and $7 for students.