Shaler Area High School is taking on one of the all-time cult classics for its upcoming musical.

The thespians at Shaler will perform "Godspell" over the next two weekends at the high school auditorium.

"I've always really liked the music of 'Godspell,'" says Janelle Miller, English teacher and director of the show. "I love the classic rock feel."

While the music was one of the main reasons for choosing the show, another factor that helped is the renovation work going on at the high school.

Due to the work, the cast and crew of the musical have less room for people, sets and storage.

This musical works because it traditionally has a smaller cast. Though this cast is a little bigger than normal. Between cast and crew, 60 students are helping put on the show.

"It's a lot for 'Godspell,' but not very many for one of our productions," Miller says.

Part of the reason for the character expansion is because the show is usually only a core cast of 11 or 12 who do the entire performance. In order to include more students, Miller also added teens who act like a chorus of philosophers.

Miller actually has some history with 'Godspell' from when she did her undergraduate work at Thiel College.

She put together a documentary on a production of the show there. She says she is still inspired by the words of Dr. Bill Robinson, the professor at the time and current head of the Theater Arts department.

"I had tears in my eyes because it was so moving," she says.

Even though she had some experience, most of the students in the cast did not. Some of the kids saw the movie and had a little hesitancy over the theme, she says, but they quickly got over it.

"They learn to love the music," she says.

Even though this is a musical, Miller uses it to help teach her students about some of the pop culture influences and moments throughout the show.

"We did a lot of explaining on symbolism and significance," she says.

A lot of the scenes require the students to use accents like Groucho Marx, John Wayne or Rodney Dangerfield. Miller found herself imitating the voices to describe them to the students.

Jill Metcalfe, 17, a senior who plays Gilmer, was in a performance of "Godspell" when she was in second-grade. She says the close-knit cast makes this show really stand out.

"We work a lot together, so we get really close," Jill says.

Alyssa Hanna, 18, who is also a senior, plays Joanne. She had heard the music before, but didn't see the movie until recently.

"It's so different from last year," Alyssa says, referring to the "Grease" performance. "It could be seen as controversial."

While Jill and Alyssa both agreed on the possible controversy, they were quick to add that it's not just a musical about church or Christianity.

"It's supposed to build a community," Alyssa says. "People need to have an open mind to come see this."

Jill added that one of the best parts of the show is the music.

"The music is really catchy," she says. "We hope people would look past some of the ideas raised to come."

Both girls said another great reason to come is to see just how talented these students are. Miller agrees wholeheartedly with that.

"They are doing very well, especially for a show that they didn't know at all," she says. "They're really fun to work with."