Students from the Vashon High School’s theater program are about to board a roller coaster of a show for six performance in March — the musical “Ride the Cyclone.”

The New York Times has called the show “delightfully weird and just plain delightful,” and VHS theater students are now promising to give it their own distinctive spin.

“Ride the Cyclone” is about a choir group of six students living in Uranium City, Saskatchewan, whose lives are forever changed by an unexpected and possibly deadly accident.

Guided by a mysterious fortune telling machine, the Amazing Karnak, each teen gets their own moment to shine in a battle of the bands-like scenario, as they reflect on their lives, hopes, dreams, and regrets.

“It’s funny, weird, and will definitely deliver some emotional whiplash,” said a press release written by members of the show’s student marketing team.

The press release detailed the show’s cast and their roles.

Ash O’Malley will play Ocean O’Connell Rosenburg — a “super ambitious narcissist,” and Sebastian Gallez will play Mischa Bachinski — “a Ukrainian bad boy with a soft side.” Ari Anderson is a cast as Constance Blackwood — the “nicest girl in town,” while CJ Clemmensen will play the Amazing Karnak — a mysterious fortune-telling machine.

Sky Skiena will play Noel Gruber, a hopeless romantic; Leo Watson is cast as Ricky Potts — “a not-so-quiet sci-fi nerd,” and Amali Lewis is Jane Doe. Her character is intriguingly described as “a haunting voice.”

All performances of “Ride the Cyclone” will be staged at Vashon High School’s theater, with 7 p.m. performances on Fridays and Saturdays, March 14-15 and March 21-22. A family-friendly performance will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 16, and a special weekday after-school show will be performed at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20.

An important note: the show is full of raunchy and sometimes explicit language and situations, reflecting the honest imaginations and experiences of its teen characters, according to the press release. Younger audience members and those who may object to such content are highly encouraged to attend the family-friend matinee on March 16.

Previews of potentially upsetting language will also be available at the door.

Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors. Get them in advance at tinyurl.com/zzsbxux5.

Support theater at VHS

When Vashon High School lost funding for a theater elective class, theater teacher Andy James improvised a solution: adding after-school clubs for students interested in gaining skills in tech theater, improv, show choir, marketing and acting.

The clubs prove the adage: If you build it, they will come.

The after-school activities have proven extremely popular, James said, attracting more students than ever to the school’s theater program, and garnering support from mentors in Vashon’s theater community, Partners in Education and Vashon Artists in Schools.

But one more significant hurdle remains: raising enough money to pay all the costs of putting on shows — a time-honored tradition and essential activity for high school students interested in theater.

The VHS theatre program is self-funded from ticket sales and community support — it has been that way for 20-plus years, James said. But putting on a musical costs a great deal — around $10,000, all told, he added.

Still, James tries, to the best of his ability, to cut costs.

“I’m very thrifty in running it and pay for only what matters,” he said.

“Ride the Cyclone,” and every other show produced at the high school, is student-driven, he said — an approach that gives the students ownership of the program.

“Students are designing the set, lighting, and costumes. Students are running the chorus and the dance group. Four of the five band members are students. They genuinely have the power to create this show, with support from volunteers and me, their director,” James said.

The payoff?

“It’s a powerful experience to be among an army of 35 or more students who truly love what they do, and who frighten themselves, in the best way, with the risk of failing,” James said. “I have had students say to me, ‘I will do anything to make this show good.’”

Donate now to support these kids and the VHS theater program at tinyurl.com/fxwhef53.

For behind-the-scenes updates on “Ride the Cyclone,” visit VHS Theatre’s Instagram and Facebook pages.

CJ Clemmensen as Karnak, a carnival fortune teller who reviews the lives of the lead characters in “Ride the Cyclone.” (Lidia Bojko Photo)