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There is no table filled with paper soft drink cups, behind which sits three sometimes fractious, sometimes gracious, judges.

There aren't any yellow tickets handed to the select few moving on to the next performance.

Yet the emotion of passing the audition can be just as real and the job of those deciding their fate just as difficult as an American Idol television show.

So begins the annual Chisago Lakes High School Variety Show, scheduled for Thurs. through Sat., March 6, 7 and 8.

Now in its 39th year, the Variety Show has a long-standing tradition as one of the best entertainment shows in the area. Vocal Director Laura Moldenhauer and Instrumental Director Joshua Anderson are up for the challenge to once again put on a show that no one will forget.

When the show was still months away, the duo started the planning process by choosing a theme.

"Josh and I talk about different ideas and we try to choose something that can be pretty open ended for the theme," Moldenhauer said.

This year's theme is "Back to the Future."

After they decide on a theme, audition and show details are communicated to students through school announcements and during band and choir classes.

Auditions this year were held Jan. 29-31. Sign-up sheets were pretty empty during the first week they were posted on the choir room door, but Moldenhauer and Anderson weren't anxious about filling the slots.

"That always happens, some kids just wait until the last minute to put something together," Moldenhauer said.

The students are asked to be well prepared for the auditions, however, and the directors agree that they are always impressed at auditions.

By the time Jan. 29 rolled around, the time slots were fill with 25 potential acts. Moldenhauer and Anderson kept the acts on task, giving them the time allotted for their audition but no more, before swinging the doors open and ushering in the next act.

The sessions are succinct, with the directors asking for an idea on how the act relates to the Variety Show theme, then taking notes during the audition. Each act is told that the winning acts will be posted Friday morning for all to see, and the students are reminded that they must be available for rehearsals during the two weeks leading up to the show. They also talk briefly about costumes or attire to ensure it is appropriate for the show.

Even though Moldenhauer and Anderson work with many musically talented students through choir and band, they are still amazed at the caliber of talent that is showcased at auditions, especially those that may not be part of one of the bands or choirs.

"What surprises us the most about the auditions is how many talented students we have at CLHS and the original ideas they come up with for acts," Moldenhauer said.

When the final note is played at auditions, Moldenhauer and Anderson are faced with the difficult task of choosing who makes the show. They typically allow around a dozen acts, depending on length. These include an emcee or emcees to introduce the show and each act. The emcees are also required to audition, coming up with a short skit to give an idea of the storyline they will follow throughout the show. This year's emcee honors go to Kori Sells and Brenna Coyle.

Moldenhauer said the only part that is not fun about the Variety Show is cutting acts.

"It's very difficult. We want to get a variety of acts and when the students come to audition they must be well prepared and relate it to our theme," she said.

It took an entire day of deliberation between the two directors to narrow the field down to 14 acts, including the emcees and the ever-popular faculty skit.

Before rehearsals start, Moldenhauer meets with the emcees, giving them the chronological order of the acts and a little background on each one.

"This gives them time to write a script for the show," Moldenhauer said. The scenes performed by emcees in the Variety Show oftentimes steal the show, and Moldenhauer always hears rave reviews from the audience.

"Every year someone asks where we got the script for the show. I tell them it is all up to the emcees to write the script and they do a fantastic job."

Rehearsals started this Monday, giving the acts eight days to practice on the Performing Arts Center stage before opening night. This also gives the lighting, sound and stage crews time to fine-tune the technical aspects of the Variety Show and keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.

Show time March 6, 7 and 8 is 7 p.m. Tickets are only available at the door starting at 6 p.m. each night; arrive early, the shows typically sell out. Prices are $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens.

Although daunting and sometimes exhausting, putting together the show each year is worth the effort. Anderson knows the high expectation for a quality show is always there, especially for next year's 40th annual show. He's already said they will have to start planning even earlier to highlight the special anniversary of great high school entertainment.

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