GOFFSTOWN — School may be out for the summer, but hallways remain busy at Goffstown High School, with its summer theater program in full swing.

Several weekends in July will feature musicals with talent ranging in age from third grade through college, said Josh Desrochers, music teacher at the high school and coordinator for the summer theater camp.

This weekend, “Pinkalicious: The Musical,” will be performed on Friday at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Goffstown High School’s Hieber Theater.

Desrochers said this hourlong performance, based on the popular children’s book, will also include a cupcake party with the cast in the admission price of $8.

“It’s definitely geared toward kids or families with young kids,” Desrochers said.

Performances will also run on Saturday at 2 and 6 p.m.

The following weekend, the theater program will present “The Fantasticks,” on Friday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, July 21, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Desrochers said the musical, first performed in 1960, is the longest running musical in the world. It will feature a pit orchestra, including a classical pianist and harpist.

“I don’t believe we’ve ever had a harp in the Hieber Theater, so that’ll be exciting for us,” Desrochers said.

On July 26, the pianist and harpist will hold a recital at 7 p.m.

The summer camp will hold performances of their shows on July 27, following weeks of work learning how to put on a show.

Elementary schoolers will perform “Jungle Book Kids” and middle schoolers will perform “Once on This Island Jr.” at three different times throughout the day.

Desrochers describes the youth performances as more educational in nature, but said he’s very proud of the work of the young actors.

While the Hieber Theater may not have the same aesthetics as a venue such as Manchester’s Palace Theater, the quality of the performances is high, Desrochers said.

“I think we are very competitive,” he said.

Desrochers said that when the theater group began in 2004, he wasn’t sure of what the response would be, or if he could even get students to return to school in the summer.

“But that first summer, we had 40 that showed up,” he said.

Students enjoy immersing themselves in the program, sometimes spending 12 to 14 hours a day at the theater.

“I love the creative aspect of it,” said Emmy Boisvert, a GHS junior who is coordinating the set design for Pinkalicious. “I get to interpret the script in different ways.”

She plans to major in theater production after high school.

Senior Kyle Duclos said he participates in the program just for the fun of it.

“I was really bad at sports, so I decided to go in the total opposite direction,” he said. “This is fun for me.”

Tickets are available at Goffstown High School from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and at the door 30 minutes before all shows.

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Kathy Remillard may be reached at kremillard@newstote.com.