Annie she ain’t. Precocious 8-year-old Tina Denmark knows she was born to be a star and she’s letting nothing, I repeat, nothing, stand in her way. She is, in a word, ruthless. And that’s what “Ruthless — The Musical” is about, basically.

The musical comedy opens Nov. 10 at The Jewel Box Theatre, directed by Trina Williamson.

Williamson, who is president of the board of directors at CSTOCK musical theatre in Silverdale, is making her directorial debut at the Jewel Box.

At a recent rehearsal she said she had always wanted to direct at the Poulsbo theater, which does “edgier” shows than the family-oriented CSTOCK is able to, but that the timing has never been right. Until now.

“This is a small cast musical that I’ve been dying to do,” she said.

The musical suits Williamson’s preferred style: a little over the top with lots of “schtick.”

It’s also very campy, a takeoff of every story written about stage mothers and child stars.

“It was based on ‘The Bad Seed’ and has elements of ‘All About Eve,’ ‘Gypsy’ and ‘Valley of the Dolls’ all rolled up in it and thrown at the stage,” Williamson said.

The leading role of Tina Denmark is played by 18-year-old Emily Kershaw, a regular CSTOCK performer.

Williamson said she went with the older actor because it was difficult to find a child who could handle the demanding role, and there is some mock violence involved in the part.

Seeing the obviously adult Kershaw in a Shirley Temple-like dress and curls, singing and tap dancing her heart out, adds to the silliness of the play.

However, the biggest laugh comes from the role of theatrical agent Sylvia St. Croix, played by the burly Dan Estes.

“This role has traditionally been played by a man,” Williamson said. “For someone not used to wearing women’s clothes, hair and nails, he’s been a trooper,” she said of Estes.

Estes is not entirely unfamiliar with playing a woman — he played one of the wicked aunts in the Western Washington Center for the Arts production of “James and the Giant Peach.” In fact, he borrowed one of those costumes for this role.

Williamson has instructed him to play it dramatically, but not like a drag queen. Still, it’s hard not to slip into an affected effeminate voice when wearing a bright red mass of curls.

Tina’s mother, Judy Denmark, is played by Christy Cook, who brings a lengthy theatrical background and a fine soprano voice to the role of the mother in the shadows. She is the antithesis of the pushy stage mother, preferring that her daughter grow up before pursuing acting. She is happy in her role as “Tina’s Mother,” as she proclaims in song, but that changes before the final curtain.

Danielle Priest plays Loiuse Lerman, Tina’s third grade classmate who gets the lead role in the class production of “Pippi in Tahiti,” leaving Tina with the understudy role and a thirst for revenge.

Priest has performed in shows at many community theaters, most recently “1940’s Radio Hour” at CSTOCK.

Other performers are Kim Hart as third grade teacher Miss Thorn and Sharon Greany as theater critic Lita Encore.

Assisting Williamson in the production are Gwen Adams, producer; Jon Delmendo, assistant director; Daryl Spadaccini, music director; Jennifer Breckel, choreographer; Ken Jones, set designer and Kate Higgins, lighting director.

If upbeat musicals featuring darling children put you in a diabetic coma, “Ruthless” is the perfect antidote.

“Ruthless — The Musical” opens Nov. 10 and runs weekends through Dec. 2 at the Jewel Box Theatre, 225 Iverson St., Poulsbo. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Nov. 12 and Dec. 3.

Williamson rated the play PG-13 for adult language.

Tickets are $14 adults, $12 seniors, students and active duty military and dependents, available at Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo, the Kitsap Mall information booth in Silverdale, by phone at (360) 779-9688 or by e-mail at jewelboxpoulsbo@hotmail.com.