CLAYTON &8212; A stage performance composed of 3-, 4- and 5-year-old actors and actresses isn&8217;t something that can be thrown together.

Pilgrim hats have to be stapled together. Indian vests need to be scribbled on. Parent invitations must be sent.

And, most important, there&8217;s practice, practice, practice.

At that age, repetition is about the only way to teach, so the teachers at Concordia Head Start in Clayton did just that this week.

Kristie Sherbia&8217;s 4- and 5-year-olds spent much of the week preparing for the opening act of the school&8217;s fall harvest performance &8212; the prayer. Thursday they even walked to the gym for a dress rehearsal of sorts.

But all the preparation in the world doesn&8217;t prevent that pit-of-the-stomach feeling you get when you stand in front of a big crowd for the first time.

&8220;I did have some that got a little scared,&8221; Sherbia said after the real thing Friday. &8220;But I had one that loves the microphone, and he did everything.&8221;

Sherbia&8217;s group handled the opening prayer in front of 50 or so parents, and the other classes did the rest. Janice Fletcher&8217;s 3-year-olds modeled their homemade Indian outfits in front of the crowd.

&8220;They were a little shy,&8221; she said. &8220;They&8217;ve never seen that many people facing them. They were standing there like, what am I doing?&8221;

There weren&8217;t as many nerves in Linda Stringer&8217;s class, she said.

&8220;Ms. Green painted our faces,&8221; 3-year-old Sanja Plains said. &8220;Because I wanted to look like an Indian.&8221;

After the show the children posed for family photos and had Thanksgiving lunch together.