MPS and Milwaukee Recreation, with the help of First Stage, have partnered for the first-ever, all-city musical, Hairspray Jr.
The debut is a culmination of a five-week summer musical camp at Riverside University High School.
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For multiple hours each week more than 30 students in grades 5-9 practiced acting, singing, and dancing.
It's 14-year-old Treasure Campbell's first musical and she plays the part of Little Inez.
13-year-old Jonathan Edwards has performed in multiple plays and musicals.
"It's exciting for me," he said. "I get to discover each character and try and make each character different from the other one."
Seasoned or not, director Kim Hardtke said the students are all treated the same, "We said, day one, we're treating you like professional actors."
"We expect things that, skills that you do in school, those are also skills that will translate as skills as an actor," she added.
Students have been up to the task.
"My favorite part is just coming here every day and enjoying myself and being able to express myself freely," Edwards said.
Hairspray Jr. debuts Friday, July 28, at 9:30 a.m. at Riverside University High School auditorium. Show times also include Friday at 1:30 p.m., and Saturday, July 29 at 1:30 p.m.
Admission is free.
For more information about First Stage visit firststage.org.
