The Matchbox Children’s Theatre made gigantic strides this summer.

In the midst of a hugely successful summer camp and the biggest Matchbox production to open this weekend, theater organizers are hopeful the program’s big gains will turn into bigger opportunities down the road.

“We went all-out with this,” said Madlain Vander, Matchbox’s -co-director for “CSI: Neverland,” the production set to open Thursday.

Matchbox volunteers organized a week-long theater camp for interested youngsters this year and weren’t disappointed with the turnout. About 20 children went to camp, which focused on the basics of stage acting like directions and cheating out.

“We taught how to project, positions on stage,” said Janell Howard, 14, one of the camp leaders.

That camp led into auditions for “CSI: Neverland,” a production with 33 cast members, the largest Matchbox play yet. Even better, all 20 camp members are performing.

“They all wanted to be in it,” said Angela Donovan, co-director.

This is the first time Matchbox organizers put on a summer camp and production back-to-back, according to Donovan. What’s more, this production involves many more students that would otherwise be left out of Matchbox productions.

“The difference is, this show has younger children that wouldn’t normally have a chance to be in Matchbox during the regular school year,” Vander said.

“CSI: Neverland” is a play centered around the mystery behind the murder of Peter Pantaloon’s shadow. Whlie detectives Murk and Tinker chase down leads, from an angry librarian to a pointy pirate captain and his super maid of a girlfriend, nothing is as it seems.

“It’s good for the family and it’s very funny,” said Cole Peterson, 15, who plays Captain Sharp.

“CSI: Neverland” opens at 7 p.m Thursday, Aug. 25 at the Paramount Theatre. The show will also play at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for children ages 14 and younger and can be purchased at the Paramount Box Office.