Members of LifeQuest, Inc., a psychosocial rehabilitation program for adults in Washington, are putting the finishing touches on their Christmas program, a holiday gift to their families and the community at large.

The cast and crew of 35 will debut the original play Dec. 11 at 10 a.m., with subsequent performances scheduled that same day at 1 p.m. and again on Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The show will be staged at LifeQuest’s auditorium, located in the former Washington High School building on East 8th Street, and admission is free.

This is the 10th holiday season LifeQuest members have presented a Christmas play, according to program director Adam Congleton. He also wrote the play, which is titled “A Story for the Headlines.”

The play centers around a struggling newspaper reporter who has been given the task of finding a headline-making story, Congleton said.

“She has been down on her luck, and this is kind of her last chance,” he said. “No one is addressing the true meaning of Christmas, so she ends up going back in time and witnessing the birth of Christ.”

The cast and crew began preparing for the play in October. Along with those appearing in the cast, LifeQuest members are gathering props and choosing costumes. The sets are for the most part being built by members who are working on vocational skills as part of their regular program of study, Congleton said.

“All of the members taking part in this are working on self concept, self esteem, public speaking, coping skills … they are working on all these things when performing in this play,” he pointed out.

Congleton said that when he sat down to write “A Story for the Headlines” he had specific LifeQuest members in mind when he created the characters.

“Part of what inspires me is being able to see the potential that they have,” he said. “This puts them in a capacity where they can excel and achieve … that part of them shines through.”

Congleton said performances have drawn as many as 500 audience members in previous years, and he expects this year will be no exception. He invited local school, community and church groups to attend.

For more information, call 252-975-8080.