A group of Royal High School thespians will open a studentdirected play tonight called "John Lennon and Me."

While they hope to draw a large audience, their larger goal is to spread awareness and raise money to fight cystic fibrosis.

The play, which the Royal High School Drama Department will perform for just two nights, is about a teenage girl who loves the Beatles, yearns for friends and dreams about becoming a Hollywood star—all while battling cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis is a chronic disease that affects the lungs and digestive systems of about 30,000 people in the United States. More than half of sufferers are under 18.

About halfway through preparation for the play, the drama group decided to make the two performances fundraising events.

"As much as the school needs money, we really felt like we wanted the proceeds to go to an even better cause," said 17yearold Cory Kosche. Cory is codirecting the play with fellow Royal junior Rachel Eisner, also 17.

Because of the main character's fight with cystic fibrosis, the group chose an organization tied to the disease. They contacted Leslie Kerr of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and told her the news.

"I got a call quite unexpectedly from a group of students who'd decided they wanted to do a benefit for cystic fibrosis," said Kerr, who used to teach at Royal in the early '90s. "It was very gracious and kind. We are just really pleased and grateful that the kids thought enough to do something like this."

Cory said many of the actors and crew from the play have been touched by the disease in some way.

"What was interesting was that there are actually a lot of people you wouldn't expect that have been impacted by the disease," he said. "Many have had a family member or friend who had suffered or even died from it. And the people who haven't been directly affected didn't know anything about it. So we thought it would be a good way to raise awareness for a disease that is actually really widespread."

Kerr suggested bringing some brochures and other information and offered to call a very special speaker. Kyra Hoolihan, 11, has cystic fibrosis and has spoken at many events for the foundation. She and her family live in Simi Valley.

"She is a really nice, cute little girl," said Cory of Kyra. "She is well aware of what the disease means, but she's just trying to live the best life possible while she's here."

"John Lennon and Me" opens at 7 p.m. tonight, May 29, in the Royal High School multipurpose room. It will also play at 7 p.m. Saturday.

"I want to really impact the audience," Cory said. "Hopefully the people who come will tell their friends and family about the foundation and raise more support for it."

Admission is free, but donations are being collected for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and 90 cents of every dollar will go to research.

"We are adding tomorrows everyday," Kerr said. "It sounds like a trite statement, but just 50 years ago, if a child was diagnosed with CF, they wouldn't live to see kindergarten."

Now the life expectancy for those with cystic fibrosis is 38.

"We've made great strides in just recent years," Kerr said. "The quality of life is improving and we believe in the nottoodistant future, we may see a cure."

For more information about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, visit www.cff.org.