By DEB GRUVER

Staff writer

Alyera Koehn and Sadie Lange interchange as lead characters in “Freaky Friday,” Marion High School’s spring musical — a challenge they’re both enjoying.

A mother and teenage daughter swap bodies in the musical, allowing each to understand the other a little better.

Alyera starts out as the mom, Katherine Blake, then becomes teenager Ellie Blake, then acts again as Katherine. Sadie starts out as Ellie, then plays Katherine, then Ellie again.

“I really like being able to explore how to make the two characters different,” Alyera said during a rehearsal Saturday with the cast.

Sadie also is learning a lot playing two characters.

“I really like the diversity among the different characters’ personalities,” she said.

The cast features 26 actors, and 10 students serve on the stage crew or are helping in other ways, vocal music teacher Ruth Springer said. Although the musical is a high school production, a few middle-school students will be on stage.

The cast began rehearsing at the beginning of the semester.

“They’re doing fantastic,” Springer said. “The cast has really taken a lot of ownership and worked hard to get their lines memorized.”

Chelsi Koehn is the assistant director, and Haylee Couey of Wichita is the choreographer. Two other teachers — special education instructor Erik Billings and arts teacher Kylie Schroeder — have pitched in as well. Billings is helping with set construction and design, and Schroeder is overseeing set painting and artistic design.

The high school put on “Singin’ in the Rain” in the fall.

“I wanted to do something that was a more modern musical,” Springer said.

Performances of “Freaky Friday” will be at 7 p.m. March 10 and 11 at the performing arts center. Tickets are available at County Seat Decorating Center for $5 each.