Life’s Lesson : Play urges youths to follow dreams.

A cast of student actors will share the stage with a collection of paintings Friday evening at Cal State Northridge. The name of the piece is “This Is Not a Pipe Dream” and its director, Anamarie Garcia, characterizes it as “a play for young adults.”

It’s the story of the Belgian surrealist, Rene Magritte, who overcame an oppressive childhood and went on to create some of the most memorable visual images of our century.

One of those, the well-known picture of a man wearing a bowler hat with his face hidden behind (or is it replaced by?) a giant apple, dominates the stage set. At a recent rehearsal, Garcia brought along someone she considers her “best critic,” her daughter Rachel.

“The play begins with a bunch of men on the stage trying to keep the narrator from telling the truth about the main character [Magritte],” Garcia said.

But Rachel, who is 11, whispered to her mother, “I want to know about the man behind the apple.” Fortunately that’s precisely what the writer of the play intends to make clear.

Written by Barry Kornhauser and loosely based on material from the Michel Foucault book, “This Is Not a Pipe Dream” (also the name of one of Magritte’s paintings), the play has a particular message for children: persevere.

“Magritte’s father didn’t want him to be an artist,” said Garcia. “ ‘It’s nonsense,’ his father said. His mother supported him but she died when he was 14. He continued, though, drawing inspiration from her support.”

Garcia sums up the lesson of the play: “Nothing is merely a ‘pipe dream.’ Anything is possible.” She also points out, “The play has much comedy in it.”

The issue of audience appeal is important to Garcia. As an assistant professor in CSUN’s theater department, she specializes in directing plays for young audiences.

So her department is used to paying close attention to children’s opinions.

“We may be the only school in the country, certainly in California, offering courses in producing plays for young adults and teaching children how to work with dance and drama,” said Garcia, referring to CSUN’s college-level training and its drama workshops for kids, ages 7-12.

The wide range of offerings is reflected in the department’s schedule of student productions this season.

On Nov. 14, Tony Kushner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play “Angels in America” opens an eight-day run. In February, “The Wiz” plays from Feb. 20 to March 1.

BE THERE

“This Is Not a Pipe Dream,” a new play for young adults, opens Friday at 7 p.m. at Little Theatre of Cal State Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., continuing Saturday, Sunday and Friday, and Nov. 14-16. Friday show times are 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m.; tickets $5. (818) 677-3093.