MPC Theatre Co. and 65 cast and crew cram songs from 22 musicals into one show.

There are kids’ plays and musicals that feature enormous casts – 40, 50, 85 strong. There is rarely a need for all those little bodies on stage, but it’s a savvy business decision by theater producers to cram them all in: It gives the little ones a taste of what theater offers, maybe inspiring them to stick with it and replenish a region’s theater scene. And mom, dad, siblings, aunties and uncles, cousins and grandparents boost ticket sales.

That’s part of what Monterey Peninsula College Theater is doing in its three-performances-only All Star MPC Follies this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Only with grown-ups.

Really talented grown-ups, from all over the county’s theater map. Like James Brady, who played Van Helsing in MPC’s recent goth/steam-punk version of Dracula. Scott McQuiston did a cartoonishly funny Lord Farquaad from Shrek. The stentorian-voiced Reg Huston is in the mix, as are Gracie Poletti, Michael Jacobs, Nancy Williams, Peter Hoffman, Teresa del Piero and many more.

All told it’s a revue of song and dance done by 30 or so of the most recognizable performers in the county from 22 musicals plucked from MPC Theater’s storied past. Songs will include “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better” from Annie get Your Gun, “Don’t Be the Bunny” from Urinetown, “Agony” from Into the Woods and “Keep it Gay” from The Producers.

Walt deFaria wrote and directs it. Depending on your predilection for musicals, you can blame or thank him. (Friday’s performance is sold out and Sunday’s was close to it at press time.) The goal is to boost MPC Theater’s diminshed budget.

“I approached [MPC Theater chair] Gary Bolen and said, ‘The theater community can’t hand you checks, but they can bring the talent together and put on a show.’ I started inviting people to participate. Nobody turned it down,” he says.

The money will go to a trust set up to allocate funds to various MPC Theatre Company productions. Money from Follies, deFaria says, will definitely go to the next production, Jungle Book in March.

The show also enlists highly esteemed crew and choreographers who, along with the actors, are donating their time and energy for the cause. This is how the theater community throws a rent party for one of its ailing friends.

Plus, deFaria says, “I love big shows. I enjoy that for some strange reason.”

THE ALL-STAR MPC FOLLIES is performed 7:30pm Fri (sold out), 7:30pm Sat (5:30pm gala reception) and 2pm Sun at Monterey Peninsula College, 980 Fremont Ave., Monterey. $30/Fri and Sun; $50/Sat. 646-4213, www.TicketGuys.com