It’s the moment the seniors have been waiting for their entire musical careers: Their own shot at producing a public production that comes straight from their hearts – well, souls, minds and bodies, too.

It’s Stevens Point Area Senior High School’s (SPASH) “Showtime.”

“It’s like a sport, everyone has their shining moment,” senior Sophie Disher said. “For us, this is our big game. We’ve been working on it all year.”

The production, themed “Changes,” will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, April 27 through April 29, and again at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 30, in the SPASH auditorium. Tickets are available beginning Monday, April 17, and cost $12 for reserved seats and $10 for general admission.

Tickets can be purchased during the school day from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at SPASH. Ticket outlets are Jim Laabs Music for reserved and general seating and Mitchell Piano for general seating. They also will be available at the door if not sold out.

In its 38th year, “Showtime” is a choir-sponsored show that highlights the talents and skills of individuals within the music department. The 90 choir students who are members of the SPASH Singers, Concert Choir and the Counterpointers are involved in “Showtime” and will perform four separate pieces by Prince, George Michael, David Bowie and Maurice White of Earth, Wind and Fire, all musicians who died in 2016.

The show also will have 15 band and orchestra students accompanying songs in the show. In addition, 15 students in the stage crew help keep the show on track. SPASH Drama/English teacher Dena Mercer is the assistant director, and SPASH alum Elijah Glennon returns as technical director.

The performance is done all by students: The students decide which songs to use, they do the choreography, they lead ensemble groups and choose instrumentalists. Auditions take place, and this year, out of 40 that started the process in March, 21 small ensembles were chosen to be in the show.

“The entire experience helps the students learn about the demands of being a live performer,” said Director Deb Pionek, who was in “Showtime” in its debut production in 1979 under the direction of Richard Johnson.

“One of the most important lesson learned is the power of teamwork,” she said.

“It’s like cogs in a wheel,” Disher said. “There’s all these different pieces that have to come together or it wouldn’t work.”

Students plan and run all skits and the small ensembles as well as plan stage movements, set up rehearsals and plan costumes.

“There’s a place for everyone,” senior Luke Daniels said. “I just hope people will enjoy it and have a good time. It’s all live, it’s all right there in front of you, and you can see the time put into it. There’s so much effort everyone put into it.”

That is one of the biggest bonuses for the students, senior Pang Chia Yang said, seeing that finished product and taking pride in the fact that everyone contributed. The students get to shape the show, and part of that is showing off who they are and what is important to them, she said.

“‘Showtime’ is a way for students to express who they are and my culture is a big part of me,” she said. “So I wanted to do a Hmong song.”

SPASH and the Stevens Point area community is diverse enough that adding culture into the show made sense – in fact, it is an element that historically was included, and for the past couple of years has been missed, she said.

Though the show includes times when the whole cast is on stage, those who are uncomfortable dancing are able to participate in the background, and at some points a small group will sing in the back to keep beat and lyrics flowing while the others are moving around.

“There’s a place for everyone,” said junior Rachel Wadina, who is doing the choreography. Organizing choreography isn’t new to her, but trying to get everyone in sync when few people are dancers has been challenging, she said.

“It’s really good to explore your range too,” she said. “It’s really been beautiful.”

This next week will be the test, students said, wrapping up the dance, the music, the songs, the placement on stage, the lighting, the movement – pulling all the fun together. Come opening night, it will all be worth it.

“It’s so hard to collect yourself and other people and be a leader,” Disher said, “but in the end it ends up being this beautiful process you wouldn’t trade for anything. I hope it inspires people.”