This spring, students at Orange Beach High School's theater department are returning to the classics. Their production of "The Sound of Music" runs through Sunday.

Darren Butler, director of the school's Conservatory of Fine Arts, said while the teens might prefer to do more recently penned shows, it is important to return to lessons of Broadway's early days.

"When you are teaching musical theater, it is really important for students to experience that golden age of Broadway," he said. "This is a staple, and they need to do more than watch on video. When they actually do it, they get a feel of the structure of those older shows. It's quite different from what we see today."

It also is what audiences yearn to see.

"We can do a lot of different shows that people have never heard of but that does not get people to come," Butler said.

He said he wants the whole community, including people who have no connection to the high school, to feel welcome.

"A lot of times people don't know they can go to these shows," Butler said. "We want the students to experience not just family members in the audience but their whole community.

"We have a lot of students who may not even have supporters who come watch them so by getting the community involved we are serving the whole picture not just a small slice."

"The Sound of Music" will run through Sunday, May 8 at the Orange Beach Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $10 for students. Tickets must be purchased at www.gofan.com

No cash can be taken at the door.