Elise Loney, far right, and her classmates, from left, Liesel Reussner, Kara Resseguie and Lily Lancaster, dance during rehearsals at “Pippin!” earlier this month at Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive.

Editor’s note: Elise Loney is a junior at Free State High School, which is opening “Pippin!” this week at the high school. This is her account of being part of the production.

With a cast and a tech crew of more than 60 talented members, we truly are presenting our own piece of magic at Free State High School; and just as our first chorus of the musical states, “It’s all for you.”

Elise Loney and her classmates sing during rehearsals at “Pippin!” earlier this month at Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive.

“Pippin” is a classic coming-of-age story. Pippin, a young prince, is struggling to find his place in the world, while the lead player and his fellow performers try to direct him to his alternate destiny. When you throw an oblivious father, a narcissistic stepbrother, a beautiful maiden and an evil stepmother into the mix, the result is nothing short of a timeless musical.

The process of approaching the musical began with the obvious: auditions. For two days, music director Hilary Morton and drama director Nancee Beilgard held open tryouts — everyone was welcome. Musicals are unique in the aspect that they draw a different cast crowd than normal theater productions. In a typical play, your cast is composed mainly of actors and actresses; musical casts, however, draw everyone from the actors to the singers to the dancers. The beauty of this is that the diversity of talent guarantees a quality production.

With the cast list posted and scripts in hand, we fell into the everyday rehearsal schedule that was “Pippin.” For two weeks, we focused solely on the music itself. Each day after final bell, we’d eagerly pile into the choir room and spend the next three hours dissecting rhythms, resolving chords and perfecting cutoffs with Morton and lead accompanist Sue Aber. Typical to any musical, “Pippin” is filled to the brim with captivating melodies, and it’s hard not to leave a rehearsal humming “Morning Glow” or “No Time at All.”

Elise Loney and her classmates dance during rehearsals at “Pippin!” earlier this month at Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive.

When we had the music down, we moved to the stage. The next step in the process was to block each scene, and, with the help of choreographer Barb Wasson, add dance to each of the songs. While seeing it all come together is both rewarding and exhilarating, it’s also a challenging time.

Now, it’s down to the gritty details. Miss a step in the dance? Start from the top. Sing a flat harmony? Start from the top. Fudge a line or two? Start from the top. It’s all about perfecting each and every element and bringing it together in a way presentable for a packed house.

With a short time left before the curtain rises and the first chord is struck, we’ve thrown ourselves into overdrive, incorporating everything from lighting to sound to costumes to makeup. While every day is exhausting and requires constant dedication and sacrifice, we members of the cast don’t mind. We’re doing something we love; something we know will reward all our efforts in the end.

And that is truly a magic of its own.