Patience, perseverance and a healthy shot of determination are the keys to success— that’s the message brought to life in the annual Texas A&M University-Kingsville children’s play, The Great Cross Country Race.

The general public is invited to the only public performance of the play at 7 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 7 in Jones Auditorium, located on Armstrong Street, near the Santa Gertrudis Boulevard intersection. The play will be performed at 9 a.m. Feb. 8-10 for Kingsville area school children and at 9:30 a.m. Feb. 11-12 for area school children outside of Kingsville. Admission is $1 per person for all performances.

The Great Cross Country Race is a twist on the classic Aesop fable, “The Tortoise and the Hare.” The play chronicles the adventures of Sloe the tortoise and Fleet the rabbit as they compete in a race through the countryside.

The play is directed by senior education and theatre major Lindsay Ramos from Falfurrias, under the direction of theatre program director Corey Ranson.

Cast members include:

Marcus Perez of Bishop, freshman theater; Heidi Langschied, 8th grader from Santa Gertrudis ISD; Andrea Fowle, 8th grader from Santa Gertrudis ISD; David Langschied, 5th grader from Santa Gertrudis ISD; Ruben Herrera, H.M. King High freshman; Caitlyn Hornsby of Kingsville, 7th grader from Incarnate Word Academy.