The curtain rises Friday on Beaufort County Schools’ biggest annual event.

Steppin’ Out is a talent showcase for approximately 440 students representing 13 of the county’s public schools.

The doors open at 6:45 p.m. Friday, and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Washington High School Performing Arts Center.

Tickets cost $7 each, but don’t ask č they’re sold out.

“It’s a great production,” said Keri Parker, a Steppin’ Out coordinator and Beaufort County Schools employee.

“Our kids really work hard on it,” Parker said. “They do a great job.”

The show has been “months and months” in the making, she shared.

Steppin’ Out benefits the Beaufort County Education Foundation.

The privately funded foundation awards grants to teachers based on such criteria as the creativity and substance their projects provide in the classroom, said Chase Stallings, BCEF president.

The foundation also gives each participating school money to cover its Steppin’ Out-related costs, Stallings said.

DVDs of the performance will be available for $15 apiece from Randy Walker’s ASAP Video, Parker said.

For more information on the DVDs, call the school system’s central office at 252-946-6593 or contact the school of a student taking part in Steppin’ Out.

The people behind the scenes of this “musical variety show” held a technical rehearsal Wednesday, checking lighting cues and other aspects of sound, lights or backstage work, according to Travis Carter, technical director and drama instructor at WHS.

“It went really, really well,” Carter said. “We have 13 acts this year, and it looks really, really good.”

The final dress rehearsal is scheduled for this afternoon.

In the lineup are school bands, a dance ensemble from Northside High School and plenty of singing and dancing, Carter pointed out.

The stage crew consists of stage manager and WHS senior Allie Evans plus Noelle Gargaro, Cameron Sparrow, Daniel Mae and sound board operator Seth Derner, Carter added.

Sarah Hodges, spokeswoman for Beaufort County Schools, confirmed Steppin’ Out is the single largest happening open to all of the system’s schools.

“This is put on by the Education Foundation, and it is basically a countywide type of talent show,” Hodges said. “We’re able to bring together students of all ages to be a part of it which is one of the greatest parts of the event.”