"If we were a rich school," trills a chorus, an allusion to "Fiddler on the Roof," before the tune shifts to a song from "A Chorus Line." 

The dancers move into position as director Tricia Benn counts the beats. The performers are experienced—one tallies "a century" of combined years on Broadway—and follow Benn's lead. 

"I hope we get the money," the women sing in chorus, striking an iconic pose from "A Chorus Line."

From opening number to grand finale, the message is clear. "A Night on the Towns" is a show with a mission: to generate enough funds to renovate the Columbia High School auditorium. Directed by Benn and Bethany Pettigrew, who choreographed "Big," this year's all-school musical, the Sunday, May 23, fundraiser features local performers, many Broadway veterans, for a one-night-only performance. 

The show features numerous award winners, including Christine Ebersole, Andre Braugher, Suzzane Douglass, the Lydia Johnson Dance troupe, a music faculty Trumpet Trio and CHS's own Heidi Burgermaster, who appears with an Alumni Jazz Band. Current CHS students will perform, as well, and there are surprise cameos in store.

The show's musical revue is entitled "Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance, Gotta Give," and the opening number borrows from familiar musicals to remind the audience of the evening's mission.

Featuring Nikki Reininga, Liz Mills Smith, Wendy Mau, Janet Bustrin, Valencia Yearwood, Kim Shriver, Guada Bas, Mimi Stella, Gayle Seay, Suzanne Hevner, Benn and Pettigrew, the medley is familiar tunes with new words. Pettigrew notes that the music was arranged by Mitch Samu, former resident, as a donation to the cause, as a singer behind her chants, "Hey, big spender."

"It's a privilege to work with these women," said Pettigrew, surveying the group during a rehearsal break. Veteran perfomers all, Pettigrew noted that some women hadn't performed publicly in nearly 20 years. "But for this cause, they came back," she said.

The South Orange-Maplewood Education Foundation (SOMEF), which organizes the evening, hopes to upgrade the CHS auditorium by replacing lighting, sound equipment, curtain, chairs and audio. It's an ambitious goal, but the evening is also a celebration, as SOMEF marks its 20th anniversary. Theater-goers can join in the celebration with a pre-show cocktail party at the Montrose home of Patricia Bell, noted art collector. Caterer David Ellis Events will provide the repast.

"Cash, checks or credit," croon the performers, marking a last pose before rehearsal breaks for the day. For the sake of the auditorium, they sing once more, "We really need this money."