It’s show time for Stevens Point Area Senior High School (SPASH) students – literally.

The SPASH music department students will be at the helm when they present their spring production “Showtime” at the end of the month.

“We do a lot of concerts, but this is really important to the students,” senior Shelby Wagner said. “We’re really in charge of our pieces. We decide what’s in the show … people really enjoy it.”

The production will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 28 through April 30, and again at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 1, in the SPASH auditorium. Ticket prices are $12 for reserved and $10 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased during the school day from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Ticket outlets are Jim Laabs Music and Mitchell Piano.

Students look forward to this production year-round, said director Deb Pionek, who was in “Showtime” in its debut production in 1979 under the direction of Richard Johnson.

“This production is different from others, because it is student led,” she said. “The students choose the songs, the students choose the group members and instrumentalists, the students arrange and practice the music on their own. The directors give feedback and guide the students.”

Students began working on the show in February, when along with large group ensembles, 52 small ensembles auditioned to be in the show. The choir students chose the songs they wish to perform for the show and begin working on the songs at the end of March.

All songs are accompanied by student instrumentalists. This year’s instrumentalists are Adam Pryor – piano/synthesizer, Claire Oberthaler – drums, Sean Hardiman – bass, Miles Geske – electric and Aaron Wolski – electric guitar.

“With it being student run, it shows us off more,” said senior Kevin O’Donnell. “It’s really unique in the way we’re putting it all together with minimal hand-holding … we’re really trying to address and draw in people who are in the community. We really want the community to see (us).”

Students plan and run all skits and the small ensembles as well as plan stage movements, set up rehearsals and plan costumes. The week before the show, they preview the production to the Stevens Point Area Public School District junior high school choirs.

“You get really proud and excited to share it with the audience,” said senior Ashley Drake. “The challenge is keeping your cool on stage when you want everything to go well and it’s not.”

Some of the small ensembles that will be in the show this year include: “Africa” by Toto, “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Presley, “Jolene” by Dolly Parton, “Lost Boy” by Ruth B, “The Only Exception” by Paramore and “Drag Me Down” by One Direction. 

All 120 choir students are involved in the show. The SPASH Singers will perform, “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5. The Concert Choir will perform “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley. The Counterpointers will perform “Sing” by Pentatonix. All three choirs will combine to perform the opening song, “I’m a Believer” by Neil Diamond and Smash Mouth and close the show with “We Got the Beat” by the Go-Gos.

“As many challenges as there are, they’re all beneficial to us in the real world so we can take that away from it,” said senior Kara Milkowski. “All the hard work really pays off.”

Luke Adsit, P.J. Jacobs choir director and former SPASH Showtime performer, is the assistant director. The large group songs have been choreographed by University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student Ryan Goszkowicz.

SPASH Singers include Sadie Adamski, Daniel Allen, Sarah Aschenbrenner, Perla Banda, Shea Casey, Magita Dade, Christina Fane, Thomas Felt, Paige Feltz, Megan Femal, Catherine Frost, Lillyanna Gignac, Hannah Hartwig, Megan Haskins, Megan Hiler, Kiri Kaster, Nadalie Khang, Faith Kluck, Tyler Kohel,

Kelsie Koprowski, Shelby Kroll, Gabrianne Larson, Cynthia Manning, Jonathan Mason, Ana Metzler, Cassandra Michalski, Jacob Morgan, Alivia Nosrati, Siiri Pellegrom, Sophia Pellegrom, Julianne Riley, Kelsey Rozak,

LeLu Schyvinck-Valadez, Katherine Sims, Skylar Suchon, Noah Tolbert, Rachel Wadina, Mikayla Walsh, Sarah Weed, Nikita Weiland, Allison Wisinski, Marc Wysocki and Theresa Yonash.

Concert Choir students include Emily Abbott, Kylee Anderson, *Josh Antill, Zuzanna Antosiewicz, *Carleen Baron, Logan Bemowski, Jaci Brandl, Quinn Casey, Damon Chang, Stephanie Cook, Cassidy Crunkilton, Mya Dailing, *Sophie Disher,

Bethany Franz, Jordan Garski, *Brandon George, *Izzy Glodosky, Emerald Hartjes, Kaycee Heetai, Dylan Hellberg, Autumn Keyser, Ryan King, Abby Klemm, Ellen Klismith, Anya Kruger, Julina Kwong, Caitlyn Leahy, Natalie Leek,

*Nick Meronk, Emily Miller, *Kara Milkowski, *Ty Nelson, Kevin O’Donnell, Melia Piotrowski, Madeline Prokop, *Hannah Raschka, *Perry Scott, Dale Steinmetz, Katrina Stelk, Paige Steltenpohl, Kathryn Stupar, *Mario Torres,

*Michael Treder, *Shelby Wagner, Nicholas Walder, Bryanna Walport, Tanner Wilson, Abbey Wiza, *Bethany Wiza, Aaron Wolski, Brianna Woyak, Emily Yach, Ka Yang, Pang Chia Yang, Andrea Zalac and Susannah Zblewski.

* Indicates students who also are singing with Counterpointers.