HOOVER – All six of the Hoover City Schools show choirs will perform on the same stage on Friday, Feb. 24.

The second annual Show Choir Showcase will be held from 6-9 p.m. at Spain Park High School, featuring almost 300 singers, dancers and instrumentalists.

Jim Schaeffer, choral music director at SPHS, said he and his Hoover High School counterpart, John Kincaid, started in their positions last year, and Kincaid had the idea for the showcase.

“This is a time for us all to come together and perform for one another,” Schaeffer said. “Typically, middle school competitions are Friday evenings, then high school competitions are all day Saturday. We never get to see their show, and they never get to see ours.

“It’s a way to give back to our students, parents and community.”

Spain Park’s “Rhapsody in Blue” will perform at 6 p.m., the Simmons Middle School “Synergy” will perform at 6:30 p.m., the Brock’s Gap Intermediate School “Show Choir” will perform at 7 p.m., the Bumpus Middle School “Cadence” will perform at 7:30 p.m., the Berry Middle School “Berry Singers” will perform at 8 p.m. and the Hoover High School “Paradigm” will perform at 8:30 p.m.

Each performance will last a little under half an hour, and the extra time is needed to prepare for the next performance.

Most groups include about 45 students, and some also have stagehands and live bands.

Last year’s event attracted a standing-room only crowd in the SPHS auditorium, which is the largest in HCS with a seating capacity of about 450 people.

Admission is free.

Because of the expected overflow crowd of spectators, Schaeffer said attendees should reserve auditorium seats for the family and friends of the group performing on stage at a particular time.

Other attendees can watch a live stream in the school lunchroom, which is adjacent to the auditorium.

Concessions will be sold, as will event posters for $5 and DVDs of school performances for $20.

Other vendors may be present also.

Schaeffer said show choir performers are all part of a well-rounded choral department.

“What you’ll see at our Show Choir Showcase is music that’s a little more modern and contemporary and pop—music you would typically hear on the radio,” he said.

“Rhapsody in Blue” is coming off a Grand Champion (Tier 2) designation in the Homewood South Central Classic competition on Feb. 18, earning Best Vocals, Best Choreography and Best Overall Effect titles.

Previously, the Spain Park show choir finished third runner-up (Tier 2) in the Opelika Southern Showcase on Feb. 11, third runner-up in the Albertville Diamond Classic on Feb. 4 and second runner-up (Tier 3) in the Tallassee Capital City Classic on Jan. 28.