Joseph Scarvell wanted to make the story of Jesus more relevant for his theater students at Kennedy Catholic High School, Hermitage, so he set the school play, "Godspell," in the Shenango Valley.

Composer Stephen Schwartz and book writer John-Michael Tebelak set the story of the last seven days of Christ's life in a New York City playground.

"I want to tell the students this didn't happen in New York City and it didn't happen in Jerusalem -- it happened here," said Scarvell, play director and theater teacher.

The musical, which also features seventh- and eighth-grade students from Notre Dame School, Hermitage, opens Friday and runs for two weekends.

Scarvell didn't alter the script for the new setting, but images of the Shenango Valley will be projected on screens at the back of the stage.

Based on the gospel according to St. Matthew, the play is a series of vignettes, and the entire cast is on stage for the whole performance.

"You can't go off, check the script and see what's coming up," said Brittany Chill, a junior from New Castle, who plays Robin and sings "Day By Day." "It's more fun to always be on stage because that makes you more a part of the show."

Scarvell wanted the audience to be part of the show, so he had a four-level set built with two wings that reach off the traditional stage. The first six rows or so will see action on three sides of them.

"It gives you a lot of space to work with, which makes it more fun," said Notre Dame student Alexa Magnotto of Hermitage, who plays the doubting Joanne.

Virginia Mateo, a Hermitage senior, said she thinks the stage setting will help audience members feel the highs and lows of Jesus' last days.

"You're in the audience a lot and it's all about making them happy or sad or confused," she said.

Benjamin Haake, a Youngstown State University freshman imported to play Jesus, said the stage promotes the fast pace of the show.

"It forces you to speed up the play because you find yourself running," said Haake, of Warren, Ohio. "We don't want any dead spots. It's fast, it goes and it means something."

There won't be any dead spots when Virginia performs an erotic dance while singing "Turn Back O Man." Scarvell joked that her dance is likely to get him arrested.

"It's quite funny," Virginia said, "because when I start to dance, he's (Jesus) shocked and when I dance with him he's very staid."

A rock band shares the stage with the performers, and Scarvell has smoke and lighted panels adding to the show's flashiness.

The show is being paid for mostly by school alumni.

When Scarvell brought school plays back to the school three years ago, he asked theater alumni to be involved, and a group was formed.

In the first year, 600 theater alumni were sent letters asking for donations, and they sent in $30,000, said Michelle Cardamon, Class of 1985.

This year, letters were sent to all alumni, about 4,000 people. Ms. Cardamon said she wasn't sure how much had come in so far.

Alumni, some of whom have acted in recent productions, jumped at the chance to work with Scarvell again, and encourage today's students.

"We're real passionate about it because we want it to be successful and want them (students) to have the same opportunity we had," said Ms. Cardamon.

Ms. Cardamon played Peggy in "Godspell" at Kennedy years ago, but has stayed away from offering any advice to the actress portraying her this year.

"Each person is so unique with this production," she said. "You really bring a piece of yourself into it."

"Godpsell" will run at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and May 9 and 10, and 2 p.m. Sunday and May 11. Tickets: at the door or at the school, (724) 346-5531,

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