Ironton High School students are gearing up for their annual musical that will become part of history this year. This year’s show, “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” is slated for May 14, 15, and 16.

“It’s a comedy and it has lot of musical numbers,” Director Kathryn Price said. “I think (people) are going to be amazed at how well the students do, both the cast and the crew.”

The musical is about the adventures of a window washer who follows the business advice he finds in a book.

The students have been practicing after school since auditions in February.

“It’s not hard to teach them, they learn very easily,” Price said. “The challenge is scheduling. We have so many students that participate in more than one extracurricular activity.”

The school has done a musical each year since 1974. While the old high school had an auditorium for the students to perform in, for the past two years, the musical has been at Raceland Worthington High School.

“They were very gracious,” Price said. “They allowed us to come in and just do our show.”

This year will mark the first one held in the new school’s auditorium.

“It’s very pretty,” Price said. “I think the community is going to really love the place.”

The auditorium, which will seat 600 people, features a stage with an oak floor and an orchestra pit.

“We feel fortunate to have such a beautiful new facility,” Price said.

Superintendent Dean Nance is also grateful for the school’s new auditorium.

“(Musicals are) a very important part of Ironton City Schools’ tradition,” Nance said. “That has become more and more evident as time goes on.”

The auditorium was paid for with state funding and money collected through a levy. Nance said many people supported the levy because they wanted to continue the tradition of musicals at the high school.

Though the school is scheduled to open in the fall, the school is getting permission from inspectors to open the auditorium for the show.

“Contractors, electricians, plumbers, inspectors and students — everyone has gone over and beyond reasonable expectations to make this play a reality at the new auditorium this year,” Nance said. “This will be the nicest auditorium in the whole area as far as high schools are concerned.”

General admission tickets for the show are $6 for adults and $4 for students. Reserved seating tickets are available for $12. For more information contact Price at 532-3911 ext. 20. The shows will be at 8 p.m. May 14 and 15 and 2 p.m. May 16.