KENDAL Amateur Operatic Society is well known for its hard work and family atmosphere - from tea lady Eva Bingham and business manager Margaret Stamper to the all-smiling cast. And, to coin a sporting term, it has plenty of strength in depth.

Proof?

Well look no further than KAOS member Andy Whittle who was a superb Scrooge in last year's production. This time around he's content to take a back seat in the chorus.

This year's KAOS spectacular, Crazy for You, is set to bring bags of razzamatazz and oomph to Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre theatre from Monday, November 1, until Saturday, November 6.

A glitzy, 1930/40s boy-meets-girl tale, it's a Gershwin extravaganza filled with song and dance and hilarious dialogue.

Crazy for You also has the potential to be a launching pad for the blossoming talent of Lauren Storer in her first lead role with KAOS as all-American girl' Polly Baker.

During rehearsals the bubbly former Queen Katherine School student tells me she's having her gap year running singing workshops, practising the saxophone and taking her grade eight piano exam as well as making moves towards drama school and a wish to follow in the footsteps of her grandma, Heather, who studied at RADA.

Lauren plays opposite Paul Knowles (Bobby Child), a new face within KAOS ranks.

Like Lauren, Paul says he loves musicals and won a NODA award for best actor in Lancaster Red Rose Society's 2003 production of How To Succeed in Business.

Among the crazy' cast is Mr Comedy himself Steve Hall. He teams up to crack plenty of one-liners with KAOS stalwart Meril Bull and Patricia Fodor, a pair of English tourists out to write a guidebook on the American West.

Central to the production are the dazzling tap dances routines courtesy of the Follies Girls, who set the pace for the upbeat production.

Making her directing debut is Kerry Hartin, marketing administrator for Reebok, who was taught dance by respected producer/director and long-time KAOS favourite Joyce Warrington, who stepped down from the society a few years ago.

Kerry has been a KAOS member for many years, but fancied a shot at steering a production.

Hardly surprising really, when you think her mother is one of the best musical producers in the region - Christine Bell, from Grange-over-Sands.

"It's a challenging show but everyone's been absolutely fantastic," Kerry explains during a break in rehearsals.

"What with the tap, singing and acting, we've a really strong mix this year."

Crazy for You (first staged in 1992) is a revamped version of the 1930s Girl Crazy and tells the story of budding performer Bobby Child, the rich son of a banking family, who has to carry out a piece of business at Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on the rundown Gaiety Theatre owned by Everett Baker.

Bobby falls for Baker's daughter Polly and that's where the plot really takes off, with a few twists and turns and memorable tunes such as I've Got Rhythm, Nice Work If You Can Get It and Tonight's The Night.

With music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Ira Gershwin, Crazy for You is set to be one of KAOS's best and most energetic yet!

Performances start at 7.15pm with a 2.15pm matinee on November 6.

Tickets are £9.50/ concessions £8.50 and are available at the Brewery box office on 01539-725133.