The musical “Oliver!” is not exactly what you would call light summer theater. Based on the novel “Oliver Twist” by Victorian author Charles Dickens, the story is set in the seamy underworld of London, when orphans were warehoused in stark workhouses and life on the streets for children was grim at best.

However, Central Stage Theatre of County Kitsap is staging “Oliver!” as its summer production, featuring an all-youth cast. The musical has special meaning for CSTOCK — it was the theater’s first production 20 years ago, and thus the perfect musical to mark the 20th anniversary.

“Oliver!” opens July 7 at CSTOCK in Silverdale, directed by Andrea Gonzales.

In the dark storyline, young Oliver is first seen in a workhouse, where he sets himself apart by asking the cruel and obviously well-fed overseer for another bowl of gruel. It’s one of the most famous lines in theater: “Please sir, I want some more,” Oliver says as he pleadingly holds out his wooden bowl.

For his efforts he is sold to an undertaker as an apprentice, and things go downhill from there. He makes his way to London where he is befriended by the Artful Dodger, who sucks him into an underworld of crime and colorful characters — and great songs.

“Oliver!” has some memorable songs, such as “Consider Yourself,” “Food, Glorious Food,” “Who Will Buy,” and “You’ve Got to Pick a Pocket or Two.”

In spite of the grim setting, “Oliver!” does have a happy ending, which is perhaps its redeeming quality for a children’s theatrical production.

The summer show at CSTOCK traditionally has an all-youth cast, which Director Gonzales said is like having 38 children of her own. She spends as much time herding children as directing them, but she said they are a great bunch.

The lead role of Oliver is played by 10-year-old Jenny Gray, whom Gonzales said was hands down the top choice for the role.

“She was the obvious choice. She’s just awesome,” Gonzales said.

Gray was in CSTOCK’s “Children of Eden,” and worked backstage on “The Man of LaMancha.”

Gonzales auditioned an equal number of boys and girls, but said the role is most often played by a young girl because the songs are too high for most boys on the cusp of adolescence. Oliver is supposed to be 13.

Gray comes from a theatrical family. Her father Rod Gray was Sancho in CSTOCKS’s production of “The Man of LaMancha,” and her sister Rebecca Gray played Mary Lennox in CSTOCK’s “The Secret Garden.” Rebecca takes a supporting role in this production.

The Artful Dodger is played by Billy Buhl; Fagin, the slightly off-kilter criminal mastermind, is played by Rickey Delaney; Glen Milligan is the black-hearted Bill Sikes and Emily Usher is his good-hearted girlfriend Nancy.

While Gray sings her heart out as the urchin Oliver, Usher is a voice to be reckoned with. Her rendition of “As Long As He Needs Me,” is a showstopping moment. She has the combination of singing ability and dramatic presentation that is essential in musical theatre. While many people can sing, and many people can act, putting the two together takes real talent.

Usher is a regular on the CSTOCK stage and has performed at Western Washington Center for the Arts in Port Orchard as well.

The backstage crew of “Oliver!” also consists of young people, with Lorraine Lau doing choreography, Patrick Polsin in props, Brandon Myers on stage construction, Laurel Spitzer as set artist and Courtney Hood designing the lighting.

“With the summer show they get to learn a bunch of new stuff,” Gonzales said of the cast and crew.

“Oliver!” was first produced as a musical in London’s West End in 1960, starring Monkee-to-be Davy Jones as the Artful Dodger. It was produced on Broadway in 1963 and made into movies in 1967 and 2004.

“Oliver!” opens July 7 at CSTOCK theater in the Silverdale Community Center, 9729 Silverdale Way NW, Silverdale, and runs weekends through July 30.

Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $12 adults, $10 seniors and students, $7 under age 11, available at the Kitsap Mall information booth.