The curtain rises tomorrow night for the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School spring musical, "Leader of the Pack," which director Gavan Pamer calls "a "high-energy rock 'n' roll concert."

Mr. Pamer, who also is the artistic director of the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Midland, said the show is organized around the life and work of songwriter Ellie Greenwich.

Along with her husband, Jeff Barry, and producer Phil Spector, "Greenwich created the girl group sound of the '60s," said Mr. Pamer. "Groups like the Shangri-Las, the Ronnettes, even Tina Turner, owe their success to songs she wrote."

The show includes 26 hits such as "Be My Baby," "Chapel of Love" and "Da Doo Ron Ron" all accompanied, said Mr. Pamer, by the dances of the time. "We do steps like The Jerk, the Monkey and the Mashed Potato."

He added the costumes, made by Kim Brown of Spotlight Costumes on the Southside, are also from the time period. "You're going to see some beehive hairdos and white go-go boots."

The set will feature about 500 real records, all 45s. "These are not cardboard cut-outs," said Mr. Pamer. "These are the real thing."

Mr. Pamer pointed out the three main characters are Ms. Greenwich, played by Alexa Magnotto, her husband, played by Justin Mock, and the Phil Spector character, here called Gus Sharkey and played by D. Blake Stadnik.

But there are also three female singers who represent the girl groups for which they wrote, played by Kelsey Crismon, Alexandra Cherico and Sarah Marince, of Moon, who has launched a country career and has recorded an eight-track country record, "Somebody Like You," produced by Nashville-based Gasoline Productions.

"Pack" also features Jimmy Schrecengost as The Bass, Kate Kramer as Ellie's mother Rosie, Mary Ours as Shelley and Julia Watson as Mickey.

One of the performers' favorite numbers, said Mr. Pamer, was the finale, "River Deep, Mountain High" "They're all onstage for that one. I think the audience is going to love it."

Mr. Pamer said much of the 32-member cast had never heard Ms. Greenwich's hits before. "This is a whole generation that's completely missed this music, and we've introduced them to it," he said.

"But I remind them that many people in the audience will know every note."