Before there was the tabloid drama of TV’s “Jon and Kate Plus Eight,” there was “Cheaper by the Dozen,” a popular 1948 book written by siblings Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey, about living with their efficiency expert parents in a house with 12 children.

Cast members of Dynamic Stage Productions, Inc.'s "Cheaper by the Dozen."

Those looking to get a sense of what life in that family was like should check out the stage adaptation of “Cheaper,” now being presented by the (relatively new) community theater company called Dynamic Stage Productions, Inc.

“We wanted to do something that would be family friendly,” said Jami Krause, who’s co-directing the show with Samantha Kempf. “Something that was a classic but people could also relate to.”

“Cheaper” focuses on a time when the family resided in Montclair, New Jersey, and the title comes from the father’s favorite joke: when he’d pull up to a light with his carload of kids, someone would inevitably ask why he had so many, and he’d say, “Well, they come cheaper by the dozen, you know.”

“I like the emphasis (‘Cheaper’) places on family and togetherness,” said Krause. “It’s such a tight-knit family, but it also shows that life back then is really not that much different than life now. There was still the rebellious teenager, the rebellious pre-teen daughters, and then Mom always trying to keep the peace while Dad is a little bit more strict. … It’s still relatable, but in different ways.”

A 1950 film adaptation of “Cheaper” starred Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy; and a more recent take on the franchise, starring Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt, hit theaters in 2003 and 2005.

Of course, any “Cheaper” adaptation, on stage or in film, involves several child actors.

“The biggest challenge has been getting the kids to play the characters in that (original) time frame,” said Krause. “There’s a lot of ad-libbing, and a lot of the kids want to say, ‘cool,’ ‘awesome,’ and modern (language). So it’s been really difficult to get them to play the parts like someone would in the 1920s, 1930s. … But these kids have actually been great to work with. They’re very dedicated.”

Leo Babcock plays the family patriarch in DSP’s production of “Cheaper,” while Karen Wickersham plays Mrs. Gilbreth, and Kim Elliott plays the eldest daughter.

“There’s such a big mix, … and so many different ages,” said Krause. “But they’re all so unique that they bring something different to the stage, which really makes it a great show to watch.”

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.