Show producer Abner Dillon (Blake Fountain) offers roses to ‘Pretty Lady’ star Dorothy Brock (Desiree Dillon) as Pat, Peggy and Julian (Ryan Stillings, Megan Wheeler, and Michael Hadary) wait in Peach State Summer Theatre’s ‘42nd Street.’

The Peach State Summer Theatre dancer’s feet find the tapping rhythm of “42nd Street’s” “Go Into Your Dance.”

The live orchestra keeps the tempo snapping, tapping, faster. The dancer’s feet blur; her tapping yapping a machine-gun staccato of metal on wood.

This is a promotional moment. A quick video session before rehearsal. Not a live show. The live shows start tonight.

So, the dancer’s taps seem to spark under the spotlight until she brings the tapping to a wobbling stop. With a wave of her arms, she apologizes, saying the tempo is too fast. The live orchestra plays back stage, invisible to the auditorium to a point that audiences sometimes forget real musicians play the musical scores rather than a recording. By the same turn, the musicians cannot see the on-stage performers. They develop dance tempos and singing cues through practice, practice, practice.

Through headsets and yelled conversation between management in the auditorium and the conductor back stage, they temper the tempo to the proper speed.

The music begins and again the dancer’s feet tap out the countdown code for the opening of the third and final production of the PSST! 2014 season.

“42nd Street” is a Broadway powerhouse. A Hollywood charmer from the heyday of film musicals that eventually became a live show.

The original “42nd Street” was a big 1930s Hollywood musical about an effort to produce a Broadway spectacle at the height of the Great Depression. Then, “42nd Street” became a big Tony award-winning Broadway musical — a real-life production-number of a show.

The show is filled with well-known and recognizable songs: “Lullaby of Broadway,” “We’re in the Money,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo,” “I Only Have Eyes for You,” etc. And big production dance numbers.

This is the fourth time that Eric Brandt Nielsen has choreographed a production of “42nd Street.” With that much experience with the show, one may think Nielsen is simply going through the motions. Not the case. He returns to this show again and again because of the challenges it presents.

“It never gets easier,” Nielsen says with a broad smile.

This production marks Jacque Wheeler’s first time directing “42nd Street.” She has also enjoyed the large-scale production’s challenges and believes the audience will be charmed by its story of a young girl finding her way in the big city and awed by the series of show-stopping songs and dance numbers.

With the opening tonight of “42nd Street,” PSST! has opened three shows in three weeks. “Mary Poppins” opened three weeks ago. “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” opened last weekend. Now, all three Broadway-style shows will play in rotating repertory with some days spotlighting two performances — for example, this Saturday, audiences can watch “42nd Street” in the afternoon followed by “Smokey Joe’s” that evening.

With all three PSST! shows now available, audiences can choose the “Lullaby of Broadway” of their liking.

THE CAST: Desiree Dillon, Megan Wheeler, Renita James, Tanisha Moore, Christine McNeal, Sarah Wildes Arnett, Caroline Hatchett, Lindsay Simon, Kelsey Russo, Michael Hadary, Robert McFletcher, Michael J. Byrne, Olin Davidson, Jared Brodie, Ryan Stillings, Blake Fountain, Price Walden, Joshua Barcol, Matthew Hogan, David E. Foster, Wendell Hester, Jazze Lewis, Heather McCall, Michael McClain, Christine McNeal, Tess Muccigrosso, Cedric J. Paige, Hannah Trowell.

DIRECTION, PRODUCTION: Jacque Wheeler, director; Eric Brandt Nielsen, choreographer; Ree Seminole, technical director; Matthew C. Mainella, musical director; Michael Hadary, vocal director; Ruth A. Brandvik, set designer; Genny Wynn, lighting designer; Esther Iverson, costume designer.

ORCHESTRA: Vicorie Brown, keys; Trent Harper, bass; Zack Jones, trombone; Sage Khan, trumpet; David Morris, percussion; Curtis Nichols, reeds; Price Walden, keys; Emily Watkins, rehearsal accompanist.

SHOWTIME

Peach State Summer Theatre presents “42nd Street.”

When: Show opens 7:30 p.m. today, and 2 p.m. Saturday, then continues in rotating repertory through July 27.

Where: Sawyer Theatre, Valdosta State University Fine Arts Building, corner of Oak and Brookwood.

Reservations, more information: Visit www.valdosta.edu/psst or call (229) 259-7770.

The Valdosta Daily Times is PSST!’s corporate sponsor.