Storyville is being overrun by evildoers who have a long history of crime — from vandalism, breaking and entering, and trespassing to kidnapping and impersonating a grandma.

But don't worry. Kid detective Agent 11 and his team of crime-fighters are on the case.

They're ready to turn Storyville upside down and interrogate the shady characters lurking there to find out who is designing a doomsday device, inventing a weather machine, blocking out the sun or planning to conquer all of humanity. Their goal is to make Storyville politically correct by wiping out stereotypes, removing all pointy weapons and rewriting the endings to stories to make the town happy and safe for all.

That's the premise behind "Storyville Detectives," an adventure story presented by Newburyport director/playwright Stacey April Fix this weekend at Newburyport's Firehouse Center for the Arts.

The Theater Workshop production is inspired by the theme from the children's series, "Storyville Detective," written by George McClements, but with a humorous stage treatment crafted by Fix.

Led by a young cast of local performers, the production combines high-spirited dance, physical comedy, flamboyant costumes and high-tech video projections in a story featuring traditional characters in a nontraditional setting.

Galen March of Newbury plays Agent 11, who stands to win a big promotion if he can succeed in cleaning up Storyville. His co-workers include Agent Doctor Spin, a mathematical mastermind played by Hannah Cagney of Byfield, and Agent 0, the master of disguise able to see through the sticky, sweet facade of the evildoers played by Allyson Gallant of Byfield. Other cast members hail from Amesbury, Georgetown, Haverhill, Merrimac, Newburyport, Salisbury and West Newbury. Katrina Turner of Newburyport handles the choreography.

Fix has produced children's theater and family shows in the region for more than 20 years with her production company, Theater Workshop. She teaches theater and directs shows at Newbury Elementary School as well. Her previous productions have included "Into the Act with Aesop's Fables," "Camp Pirate" and "Alyce in Cyberland."

IF YOU GO

What: "Storyville Detectives," directed and produced by Newbury's Stacey April Fix

When: Tomorrow through Sunday. Performances tomorrow, 7 p.m.; Saturday 1 and 7 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m.

Where: Firehouse Center for the Arts, Market Square, Newburyport

How: Tickets $12, $10 seniors, students and members. Call 978-462-7336 or visit www.firehouse.org.