ARIEL Theatrical throws a birthday party in the Hundred Acre Wood.

It’s a Monday morning in Salinas. Children are rushing to the door of ARIEL Theatrical on Main Street for rehearsal. They scatter to dressing rooms and soon reemerge in animal costumes. The stage has been transformed into a forest.

There are rabbits and ducks, butterflies and bees. The young actors warm up and sing a song, getting ready to face a dilemma: What to do if a birthday party is to be had, but the birthday animal’s tail is missing?

Such misfortune just happened to Eyeore the donkey. Winnie-the-Pooh may have a one-track mind – honey – but no one can accuse him of not helping a friend in need. The tail has to be found and the birthday festivities must take place, because all stories in the Hundred Acre Wood, created by English writer A.A. Milne, have a happy finale.

Winnie-the-Pooh Birthday Tail is a musical at ARIEL Theatrical, where, in the Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre, local children have been learning the fine art of acting for the last four decades.

The cast of 40 children and teens bring the stage to life. There’s Eyeore, grateful for all his friends buzzing around him, Roo who has to be constantly supervised by his mother Kanga, Piglet who convinces Eeyore that everybody needs a friend, Christopher Robin and Winnie, with a pot of “hunny.” There is a cake to be served and a tail – found by Owl – to be reinstalled on Eyeore’s behind. There are wonderful ensemble scenes and lots of joy and energy.

“We do stuff differently at ARIEL Theatrical,” says artist-in-residence and director Kylee Sullivan.

Young actors (ages six to 18 for this show) sign up for the program, not knowing what play and role they will perform. All are welcomed, including those with no experience.

All the shows at ARIEL are family-friendly and principle-centered, with a strong comedy element built in. Later this year, the theater will stage The Hobbit, Go Fish (about a tuna fish who can’t carry a tune), A Charlie Brown Christmas and others.

“It’s not about getting the part you want,” Sullivan says about casting. “It’s about wanting the part you get.” After all, the Hundred Acre Wood doesn’t exist without all the characters – and all characters are equally needed.

WINNIE-THE-POOH BIRTHDAY TAIL 7pm Friday, June 27; 2pm and 7pm Saturday, June 28. $11-$13. ARIEL Theatrical at The Karen Wilson Children’s Theatre, 320 Main St., Salinas. 775-0976, arieltheatrical.org.