Students from across the Michiana area are getting a taste of what life is like on stage — and on campus — this week through Southwestern Michigan College’s Summer Musical Theatre Camp.

The two-week program began last week and concludes this weekend with a trio of performances of Stephen Schwartz’s and John Caird’s “Children of Eden,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. The three shows will take place in the Dale A. Lyons Building theater on the Dowagiac campus, 58900 Cherry Grove Road.

Tickets cost $10 for general admission, $5 for students and senior citizens, and are free for Southwestern Michigan College students with their student IDs. Tickets may be purchased online at swmich.edu/boxoffice or at the doors on show nights.

The musical, originally written in 1986 as “Family Tree,” is a two-act retelling of the Book of Genesis. The first half of the show depicts the story of Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel, while the second half tells the story of Noah and the great flood.

While based on Biblical stories, the plot of the show focuses less on the spiritual aspects of the tales and more about the characters and the relationships they build — and destroy — with one another, said Marcus Roll, organizer of the college’s Musical Theatre Camp.

Roll said the musical was chosen not only for its storytelling elements but due to the fact it has yet to be staged locally.

“The musical showcases both strong male and female characters, and features a lot of great musical numbers as well,” Roll said. “It was the right show for us.”

The cast of the show is made up of 28 area high school students participating in the summer program, as well as several college-age camp counselors, Roll said.

The students, who come from not only Cass County schools but districts ranging from South Haven to South Bend, arrived at SMC July 16, and have been rehearsing for the show ever since. The young actors have practiced from around 9 a.m. to almost 9 p.m. every day during the camp, and spend their evenings resting inside the campus’ dormitories.

“Professional theater companies usually practice two to three months to put on these types of productions, so for us to it knock it out in two weeks is pretty incredible,” Roll said.

The participants, whose experience range from veteran child actors to students starring in their first musical ever, have spent the last week brushing up on the same skills professional stage actors employ in their trade: singing, blocking, memorization, etc. In the process, they also get a chance to meet fellow student actors, many of whom they will go on to form lasting friendships with, Roll said.

In addition to the teaching talents of SMC faculty and local performers, Roll has recruited professional stage actress Katie Travis to help with instruction this week. The Michigan native has recently ended a three-year stint with the North American tour of “Phantom of the Opera,” where she played the lead heroine of the play, Christine Daae.

Roll, Travis’ friend and former classmate at Central Michigan University, said having a performer of her caliber should inspire the students to step up their game this week.

“I think she brings that level of professionalism the kids are looking for in this program,” he said.

Roll is encouraging the entire community to come out the shows this weekend to check out the fruits of the students’ labor.

“These kids are working their tails off,” he said. “I think this is one of the strongest casts we’ve had since we started the program. I think the shows will be more than worth watching.”