It's a show by and about young folks, a black-light production of puppets and singing and dancing that involves 10 youths from the McVicker family. It also involves dinner - all at the National Hotel on Broad Street in downtown Nevada City. Running for eight consecutive Fridays, this dinner show starts Friday.

Called Touched By a Child Dine and Shine Theater, it is the brainchild of the nonprofit Touched By a Child Foundation of Grass Valley. Teaching children to live right is part of its mission.

"The Flowears from Wurdza" is the title of the play. The scene is in a 1950s' diner. The "Flowears" (flowers with ears) have come to Earth to collect new kind words for their king. Kind words not only please the flowears but also make their way to the king and become music to his ears. The Touched By a Child puppets discover that unkind words make them feel unworthy. So they realize they must be careful what they say, or they may chase their friends away.

This is a family effort," said matriarch Kathy McVicker. "Mom, dad and kids made the props." Because everything has to be in black light, it had to be sprayed or painted to shine.

"Some of our kids have developmental disabilities, and working with puppets gets them on stage, but the black light keeps them in the dark. It works well with shy people who want to be on stage but have trouble doing it."

The evening begins at 6. Attendees can order whatever they want from the menu for $16 for adults and $8 for children (tip, tax and dessert included). The performance starts at 7 p.m. and costs $10 for adults, $3 for teens and $1 for children 12 and under.

All funds for the tickets, said McVicker, go toward helping families in the community.

Make reservations at (530) 273-1112 through May 2.