The cast and crew at the Musical Theatre Guild of Butler are getting ready for opening night of their annual summer show.

"Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?" is a tale of coming of age in the U.S. Catholic culture of the 1950s.

It will open July 10 and run through July 19 at the group's William A. Lehnerd Performance Hall in Butler Memorial Park.

The musical based on the book by John R. Powers, with music and lyrics by James Quinn and Alaric Jans, follows eight children through Catholic school from elementary through their senior prom. The play is almost a self portrait of the author and tackles the issues that children faced in the '50s and '60s.

Jeff and Alison Carey of Butler will take to the boards again in tandem. The married couple last appeared in the show "Rumors" at the Butler Little Theatre.

Alison Carey takes on the role of Virginia Lear.

"Virginia is one of the Catholic school children in the play. She is a bit of a tomboy in the early scenes where she is in second grade and fifth grade. As she gets into high school she gets pretty boy-crazy," she explained.

Jeff Carey, who plays Felix, said his character has traits similar to some characters found in the musical "Grease."

"Felix is also a Catholic school child. He is like one of the dopey T-Birds with a little bit of the geeky Eugene mixed in. Glasses included," he said.

Alison Carey, who will be performing her first onstage solo in this musical, said she is enjoying some of the musical challenges.

"What I like best about the musical are some of the more complicated songs in which the eight children are singing at once, but each on our own part," she explained.

"The song 'How far is too far?' is my favorite song from the show for this reason."

Phil Ball of Butler plays the lead role from the novel, Eddy Ryan.

"He's a good kid but not the best student. He seems to me to be the type of kid who's mind wanders at the wrong time and causes him to lag behind in learning," Ball said.

While he's both performed and directed shows in the performance hall before, Ball said that intimacy will be a challenge with this production.

"Intimate surroundings work very well for reviews and such when you have some audience interaction, but this show is more traditional," Ball noted. "Refraining from bringing the audience into the show when they are so close will be the toughest part."

Playing one of the nuns in the show is Rikki Stupka, also of Butler.

"I play Sister Lee, a grizzled and stereotypical very old nun," Stupka said. "She is harsh and a stickler for the rules but shows her softer side at points.

"I get to hit people with my cane and with a ruler," she added about the tougher moments.

Stupka is very satisfied with her musical assignment for this role. "I have it easy in this show. I have the alto part on all songs, so no struggling to hit high notes. I have one song of my own called 'Cookie Cutters' that talks about all God's creatures being special," she said.

The production is under the direction of Davlin Smith and Karen O'Donnell.

Seating is limited. Tickets are $15 and are available at May's Music Shoppe, 247 E. Jefferson St.

Prior to the show's opening, MTG will give a benefit performance of "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up" at 8 p.m. July 9 in Memorial Park for the Butler YWCA. Tickets are $20 and include refreshments at intermission. Tickets for the benefit show are available at the YWCA, 120 W. Cunningham St. Call 724-287-5709.

<B>WHO:</B> Musical Theatre Guild of Butler<B>WHAT:</B> "Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?"<B>WHEN:</B> July 10 to 19, at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays<B>WHERE:</B> William A. Lehnerd Performance Hall in Butler Memorial Park<B>ADMISSION:</B> $15, tickets available at May's Music Shoppe, 247 E. Jefferson St., from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.