In the band room at Tahoma High School the drums and chairs get pushed aside after the afternoon bell rings and the room becomes a stage.

Tahoma High drama students go over and over their lines, practicing their blocking — that is, how and when they move around the stage — and the von Trapp children crowd around Uncle Max, playing and putting off singing because they miss Maria.

If they aren’t “on stage” then they are working on their lines, working on homework, or just chit chatting about the show — or the pizza that a student had delivered to rehearsal.

Opening night of the school’s production of “The Sound of Music” is fast approaching with the first show on May 2.

Director Melissa Corby said she selected the classic musical because she knew she had the talent in her students.

“I chose it primarily because this year we have a strong group of females,” Corby said.

She also cited the show’s family friendly story and the opportunity to get younger students from other Tahoma schools involved.

At this point the cast is focused on learning their lines and their dances. This week was the deadline for line memorization, and after that every missed line will cost an actor a five-second wall sit.

Senior Tavares DeLeon has been a part of Tahoma’s last two productions, “Les Miserables” and “Into the Woods”, keeps trying out because of the good experiences he’s had.

“I just really like musicals,” DeLeon said. “I think it adds a little something.”

His favorite part about “The Sound of Music” is the positive message.

“I like that it’s about one person changing the entire family’s lives,” he said.

Rehearsals at this point include lots of stopping and starting as well as repetition. Overall the show includes 35 actors and will also include another 20 crew members plus the pit orchestra.

“Sorry, today’s my picky day,” Corby told the students as she stopped them and adjusted some of the blocking for a scene.

But with all that starting and stopping and repetition comes confidence. Each time students run through a scene there is less hesitation as they adjust to their characters and where they are supposed to be in relation to each other.

Preparations for musicals are a flurry of activity from auditions through the final curtain. There’s rehearsals and costume fittings, set building, practicing for the first time with microphones and lighting — not to mention dress rehearsals and adding the live music. The little details will continue to be refined right up until opening night.

“I love working with the younger kids,” said senior Katie Duffy, who plays the role of Maria. “They’re really, really fun.”

On the other side of Covington, in the performing arts center at Kentlake High School, fairytale characters are celebrating their individuality and “letting their freak flag fly,” as students rehears for “Shrek: the musical.”

The line from the show, “what makes you special makes you strong,” has become their motto.

“What makes you strong?” Director Pam Cressey asked the cast.

Responses called from the stage included “dedicated,” “we like each other,” “fun,” and “being in character.”

“I hope you feel as frantic as I do,” Cressey told the cast at a rehearsal this week. They have essentially three weeks before spring break in which to make any changes and get everything running smoothly before they start doing performances for elementary and middle school students.

Rehearsal this week took place while the set was also being constructed on stage, the hum of electric drills adding the soundtrack to Shrek, Fiona and the Donkey’s trek through the swamp, headed for what Fiona thinks will be her true love.

Getting the blocking down pat is one area of focus for the production.

“The stage is always like a teeter-totter,” Cressey told the cast. “It always has to have somebody balancing it. Everything must have a purpose.”

Senior Devin Bouee, who plays the part of Shrek, has been involved with drama at Kentlake throughout his high school experience and said he likes the show for its sense of humor.

“It’s a kids show but it has a serious framework,” Bouee said. “You can almost do whatever you want. Almost.”

Senior Seth Wiswell, who plays the Donkey, has been in several other productions and is in his first leading role.

“This show has been a learning experience for me, taking a lead,” Wiswell said.

The main differences, Wiswell said, are having to learn more lines and having a lot more details to pay attention to.

Cressey said it is going to be a crazy sprint to the finish for the cast and crew but she has faith it will come together..

“They have been so immersed in this Disney stuff, they know what they’re doing,” Cressey said.