When the students in the theater arts program at Smith Middle School presents "Bridge to Terabithia" this week at the school, it is likely to mean more to them than most school plays.

That's because they are doing "Bridge" in memory of two fellow students who died recently --one of a heart condition two years ago and the other the victim of a drive-by shooting in Durham last summer.

"Bridge to Terabithia" is about an 11-year-old boy living in the rural South who becomes best friends with a new girl in town. Together the create an imaginary land called Terabithia in the woods, where they spin fantastic adventures and escape from the pressures of the outside world.

Tragedy strikes, however, leaving one character facing the task of dealing with death.

"It's a very poignant story," said Deborah Winstead, who directs the theater arts program at Smith. "Kids seldom know how to deal with the reality of death, especially the death of a young person. This is an interesting, powerful treatment of that subject, and I hope it will open doors to communication for the kids and help them find a way to talk about some of these difficult things."

Shows run through Saturday at 7 p.m. at Smith.