OGDEN -- The cross-town rivalry between Ogden and Ben Lomond high schools is hot. The same is true with the junior highs Mount Ogden and Highland.
But that rivalry has been put to rest for the past six weeks among about 35 kids who decided singing, dancing and acting are much more important.
They are participating in the musical "Once Upon a Mattress" for the next four nights, and the four schools have come together to make the musical happen.
The idea of teaming up the schools for a play came to school board member Joyce Wilson in mid-January, when she realized that neither high school would do a musical this year.
Wilson was volunteer co-producer of Mount Ogden Junior High's musical, which was performed in early February. She didn't want the high school kids to miss out on the chance to have a musical the whole year.
Students at Ogden High had already been disappointed earlier in the year when the school's production of "13" was shut down just four weeks before performances began.
Problems with "13" started because of script content, but Wilson said most of that had been worked out. Then the city's injunction against the Trece gang added more problems, because the district and administrators didn't want any confusion with the musical and the gang.
The lack of venue for Ogden was also a problem because the school's auditorium is still under renovation.
That's when the thought of bringing Ben Lomond into the mix came to mind.
"We did it with all the schools last year when we had a musical revue, and it worked out very well," Wilson said of combining the groups.
The idea to include the junior high students came after only a few students turned out for initial meetings and tryouts.
"Once Upon a Mattress" director Jana Coates said she thinks the kids were a little gun-shy after the fall situation.
"There was definitely some hesitance there, until they realized this was really going to happen," Coates said.
Wilson agreed to be producer and asked Coates to direct.
"I love the theater, and these kids deserve this," Coates said as she motioned toward the students -- in full costume, practicing lines and putting on makeup -- all around her.
Costumes were pooled from the schools and a local rental agency at virtually no cost, and both schools had musical budgets they could draw from.
Neither was concerned about the cross-town rivalry.
"We told them they needed to unite, and they did," Coates said.
Wilson had no doubt they could pull it off because of the caliber of students involved.
Ogden High sophomore Kyle Coburn was glad to have the chance to be in a high school musical. He was the lead in the "13" production and was disappointed it never took off.
"I've gotten to know a lot of people, and it has been a lot of fun," Kyle said.
He admits he didn't even think of the rivalry between the schools when he found out about all of the participating schools.
"I just always hated Ben Lomond because of the rivalry and all, and now it's just like no big deal," said Ogden High senior Robert Crawford.
He had never been in a musical and is glad for the chance to do it before graduation.
"It has been great, meeting the people, trying something new."
Wilson has no doubts that both high schools will be back to normal next year, doing their own musical productions, and she knows there are parents who will step up to make sure it happens. She has seen how it changes students' lives for the better.
On the stage
"Once Upon a Mattress" will be performed at 7 p.m. today, Friday, Saturday and Monday at Ben Lomond High School, 1090 9th St. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for students, and may be purchased at the door.
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