For years, young readers have enjoyed the much-loved children’s series by Gertrude Chandler Warner, “The Boxcar Children.” Now, children and reminiscent adults are able to see the books come to life on stage.

A new adaptation of the original story comes to the stage as part of The Kate Goldman Children’s Theater at the Des Moines Playhouse, 831 42nd St.

The Playhouse, Iowa’s oldest and largest performing theater, introduces its newest production, “The Boxcar Children,” under the direction of Kathy Pingel.

Pingel says “The Boxcar Children” will be entertaining for young children as well as for adults.

“We’re starved for family entertainment these days, and this play is just that,” she says.

Set in the Depression era, “The Boxcar Children” tells the story of four newly orphaned siblings — Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny Alden. When the children find out they’re bound for separate foster homes, they run away in order to keep their family together. They manage to elude the authorities and eventually stumble upon an abandoned boxcar that they fashion into their new home.

Pingel says she’s especially proud of the children who play the four main roles — David Van Cleave as Henry, Kamerin Churchman as Jessie, Claire Kapustka as Violet and Stephen James Novak as Benny.

“They’ve all just worked so hard to make this happen,” she says.

But Pingel says children won’t be the only audience members who appreciate the adaptation.

“A good children’s theater exists on a lot of different levels so that adults will enjoy it and get as much from it as the children will,” Pingel says.

Many stories for children aren’t complete without a good moral, and Pingel says adults and children can learn a valuable lesson from the play.

“The children will see an adventure and picture themselves living on their own and making decisions for themselves,” she says. “Hopefully, adults will see how children perceive them as an authority and will understand that children can succeed by virtue of their virtue.”

The most enjoyable aspect of making the play, Pingel says, was getting to create it along with the actors.

“You feel like you know what the story is all about, but once other people begin to interact with it, it becomes a different story,” she says. “So, what you have at the end is different than what you anticipated but probably stronger because it was a group effort.”

What: “The Boxcar Children”

Where: Des Moines Playhouse, 831 42nd St., Des Moines

When: 7 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Saturday; 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday; 1 p.m. Dec. 5

Cost: $15 public; $14 seniors (62+); $12 students