A wide variety of shows are on the high school spring musical stage this week and next.

For Freedom Area musical director Keith Kovalic, the decision to do "Peter Pan" had as much to do with the musical's future as with its present. The show opens tonight.

"This is a family-based show," said Mr. Kovalic. "It attracts the [age] 12-and-under crowd. And if you can get them young, show them the musical is fun to do, that lays a foundation for them -- and for us."

But even though the musical is based on J. M. Barrie's beloved children's book about the boy from Neverland, pulling off the technically demanding show wasn't child's play, said Mr. Kovalic.

Though some members of the cast will be in flying rigging, others will only appear to fly -- and Mr. Kovalic said he hopes he'll be the only one who knows who is who.

"We're keeping true to the mystique of the show," she said. "I'm pretty proud of the way we've been able to pull off some of the high-level technical effects."

Mr. Kovalic has stayed with tradition by casting a young woman as Peter, sophomore Rebecca Fleming.

The 70-person cast also stars Jessica McNear as Wendy, Jordan Cindrich as John, Zac Huwar as Captain Cook and Mr. Darling and Karin Baker as Tiger Lily. Stephen McFee plays Smee.

Quigley Catholic's musical director, Laura Yoerg, said that with 70 people in her cast and another 25 or so in the crew, "Footloose," which opens tonight, "involves around half the school."

Ms. Yoerg said when she announced the musical last fall, "students were screaming and applauding. That kind of anticipation is really wonderful."

Based on a 1984 film, "Footloose" follows big-city teen Ren as he moves to a small town where dancing was banned after a post-prom accident. He challenges the repressive Rev. Moore while courting his daughter, Ariel. The score includes "Almost Paradise," "Holding Out for a Hero" and the title song.

"Footloose" stars Sam Lopez and Samantha Kusich as Rev. and Vi Moore, Jordan Sonnett as Ren, Stephanie Guerdan as Ariel, Kelsy McKee as Ren's mother, Ethel, and Mara Kern as Rusty.

Although students in the musical learn theater skills, including "theater history, building a character, moving on stage," said Ms. Yoerg, the musical is "more than just putting up a show."

"The students learn to work as a team, they learn leadership, and they learn to appreciate that everyone has different skills."

Bishop Canevin director Andy Folmer said he liked that "Seussical," the musical based on several of Dr. Seuss's best-loved children's stories, had so many substantial parts for his students.

"One of the main goals is to give the kids as many opportunities as possible," he said.

"Seussical" opens Wednesday. Much of the plot revolves around Horton's efforts to protect both the tiny speck that contains all of Whoville and Mayzie LaBird's egg, which he's been sitting on in her absence.

Instead of portraying the mischievous Wickersham brothers as monkeys, as in the Broadway version, Mr. Folmer has opted to give them "a boy-band feel, something a little hip-hop."

And he borrowed the roles of Thing One and Thing Two from the children's version of "Seussical," adding that along with the Cat in the Hat, "they become almost a vaudeville trio." It helps, he said, that the Things are played by dance captains Chelsea Pacconi and Celina Pompeani.

Mr. Folmer also said that the musical program "opens the door for people to go on in theater." Dylan Putas, the Cat, plans to attend Carnegie Mellon University for drama and Paul Kolos, Horton, will go to Point Park University for broadcasting.

"Seussical" also stars Chelsea Raffa as Gertrude McFuzz, Olivia Davis as JoJo, Mackenzie Grapes as the Sour Kangaroo and Bo Tokarski as the Mayor of Whoville.

At Montour, "And the World Goes 'Round," a cabaret-style revue of John Kander and Fred Ebb's greatest hits, also opens Wednesday

"Last year we did 'Les Miserables,' " said musical director Tammy Townsend, "so we're going for something a little more intimate this year."

While Ms. Townsend said she chose "'Round" to show her students "a different form of theater," she added that since the high school auditorium is undergoing renovations, she was looking for a flexible production without big set requirements.

Ms. Townsend said much of the work she's done with her cast has been focusing on forging a connection with the music and with their listeners. "Every song tells a story to the audience," she said. "And Kander and Ebb are very difficult for young people, because many of the words to their songs mean exactly the opposite of what they say."

Despite the revue format, she said, "'Round" will have plenty of visual interest. "This is a dream show for people who get bored easily," she said. "There's roller-skating. There's banjo-playing."

The 57-member cast includes 16 seniors -- 14 of whom are soloists.

Kate Luce Angell is a freelance writer.