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LEWISTOWN - Katie Lepley knows how the Sacred Heart School Christmas Musical has become a time-honored tradition for many decades.
The fourth-grade teacher and co-director of the musical also knows that even staples need a little tweak or update now and then.
That's how Lepley and others involved chose this year's Christmas musical, "Starry Night, Noisy Night."
"It's a Christmas story from the stable animals' point of view," Lepley explained of the upcoming show which is slated for 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. performances on Friday at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 106 N. Dorcas St., Lewistown.
"The cows are annoyed by the bright starlight," she added. "The sheep spend so much time gazing through their window at the activity outside the stable that they almost miss the miraculous scene unfolding before them. The chickens are too busy pecking out text messages to other chickens to receive the message conveyed by the birth of the Christ Child."
The musical is a humorous take on the modern distractions that prevent society from seeing the true meaning of Christmas.
"It's something that gives us time to stop and think about why we celebrate the Christmas season," Lepley said.
The cast of the musical consists mostly of fourth- and fifth-grade students at Sacred Heart School, including Hannah Russler as a sheep; Adalynne King as a cow; Olivia Glendye as Mary; Dhanvi Patel as an angel; and Nathan Casner as the narrator. Lepley said all students at the school appear in the production as they have a song they have to learn.
The school held auditions for the musical about two weeks before Thanksgiving. After selecting the cast, they started rehearsals the week before Thanksgiving.
Students and their families will put a lot of time into preparing for the show. Lepley said a lot of the school's alumni come back just to see the musical; some have even sung solos.
"The kids get to fifth grade, and they don't forget these things," she said. "They remember fun, meaningful experiences."
Typically, Lepley said the school has rotated through a series of musicals, but not this year. "This is a brand-new one," she explained.
It truly has been a school production. "The parents serve as volunteers building the sets and grandparents work the sound system," Lepley added. "We have big wooden sets that were made like 20 years ago, so they are drilled together and transform the church into a little town of Bethlehem."
Lepley is assisted by Jessica Hardin, a fifth-grade teacher at Sacred Heart. Lepley also credited third-grade teacher and co-director Deb Henry for her efforts behind the scenes and Director of Advancement Ashley Henry for handling the music.
"All the teachers really put forth a lot of effort, with practicing the songs," Lepley said.
Admission to the musical is free. A freewill offering will be taken.
After the 7 p.m. performance, a cookie social will be held in the school cafeteria.