One thing theater does well is whisk us out of our world and into another.

The musicals opening this week at three Allegheny County high schools in the PG East region offer audiences a chance to visit mysterious and beautiful places..

"Brigadoon," which debuted on Broadway in 1947, is about an enchanted and ideal Scottish town that appears once every 100 years. On the day it becomes visible, two American tourists happen into town during a wedding celebration and threaten to break the spell.

The idea of a beautiful place that has escaped the 20th century is a compelling one, said music director Robert Read. "One of the characters in the show says, 'Everyone wishes they could have a Brigadoon.' "

Mr. Read also noted that Larry Cervi is back at Gateway as director after a seven-year hiatus. Mr. Cervi is the founder of the Cervi School for the Performing Arts and the East End Kids ensemble.

"Brigadoon" has some unusual costume and set requirements, which may be partly why the musical isn't done as often as some others. Mr. Read said Gateway usually makes its costumes, but this year is renting from Spotlight Costumes on the South Side.

"With all that plaid," he said, referring to the show's Scottish Highland garb, "we weren't sure how often we'd use it."

Mr. Read said Gateway hired Rich Rosenbaum, who did last year's "Cinderella," to design the set, which includes the rocky crags that surround the village -- carved from styrofoam.

But he added the music, which includes "Heather on the Hill" and "Almost Like Being in Love," is so beautiful that "Brigadoon" should be more popular. The Scottish-inspired dance numbers, one of which includes swords, are choreographed by Kim Merge

Todd Slobodnyak and Matthew Magill play Americans Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas. Michael Murray plays Charlie Dalrymple, Andrew Coulter plays Harry Beaton and Matthew McMurchey plays Mr. Lundie.

Rebekah Poklemba will play Fiona MacLaren tomorrow, Sunday and at 7:30 p.m. May 3; Margo Davis will play her Saturday, on May 2 and at 2 p.m. May 3.

Nicolette Ciampa will play Meg Brockie tomorrow, Sunday and at 7:30 p.m. May 3; Hannah Jo Weisberg will play her Saturday, on May 2 and at 2 p.m. May 3.

Chandler Farren will play Jean MacLaren tomorrow, Sunday and at 7:30 p.m. May 3; Emily Sabo will play her Saturday, on May 2 and at 2 p.m. May 3.

Claire Davidson said what sold her on "Seussical," which will open tomorrow, was its big ensemble cast.

"We have a lot of talented seniors and we wanted to give them a chance to shine," she said, adding that most of the leads are double-cast to ensure that more roles were available.

Although it borrows characters and ideas from several Dr. Seuss works, "Seussical" mostly follows Horton the elephant's efforts to protect the dust speck on which tiny Whoville sits and the unhatched egg left him by Mayzie LaBird. Most of the action takes place in the imagination of a young boy, JoJo.

Ms. Davidson said the imaginative aspect of the show was a source of inspiration and a challenge.

"All the sets and props and costumes have to be created out of your imagination, which was difficult. But the students were full of creative ideas, and they had a lot of input into the show."

Some creative ideas revolved around increasing audience participation by having characters interact with the audience, and using what Ms. Davidson called giant puppets, courtesy of Puppets for Pittsburgh.

"I won't tell you where we used them, though," she added. "I want it to be a surprise."

Though she said everyone has worked hard, Ms. Davidson singled out Michelle Falcone, who will play the Sour Kangaroo Saturday and May 3.

"She also made the puppet she uses as the baby kangaroo, and she has done most of the painting on the set with her twin, Natalie," said Ms. Davidson.

"Seussical" also stars Ashley Harmon as the Cat in the Hat; Ben Diebold as Horton; and Katie Plance as Gertrude McFuzz Saturday and May 3.

Matt Plescowski will play the Cat, Dan Harmon will be Horton, Carly Otte will play Gertrude and Lacey Russell will be the Sour Kangaroo tomorrow night and May 2.

Allie Dolnack will play Mayzie LaBird and Patrick Bovo will be JoJo all nights.

"How do you follow Urinetown?'" asked Barbara Holmes, musical director and performing arts department chair at Winchester Thurston. "You do something completely different."

Winchester Thurston won Best Musical in the budget class last year at the Gene Kelly Awards for "Urinetown," a darkly satirical show.

This year's "Once on This Island," which will open tonight, is an earnest retelling of the "Little Mermaid" story with a Caribbean theme.

Written by Lynn Ahrens and Dormont native Stephen Flaherty, "Island" follows the orphaned Ti Moune as she makes a bet with the island's gods in order to get a chance at the love of Daniel. Daniel is one of the wealthy, lighter-skinned descendants of the French planters who control the island, know as grand hommes.

"We try to use the musical as a way to teach our students," Ms. Holmes said. "We try to give them four styles of musical in the four years they're here."

"Island" offers another teaching opportunity in its presentation of French Antillean culture.

"We invited Tracie Yorke to work with the students on traditional Caribbean dance," Ms. Holmes said of the founder of Tracie Yorke dance studio in Lawrenceville, who also has studied traditional dance in Cuba, Brazil and Taiwan.

"We learned that the gods in Caribbean dance have specific movements that belong to them," Ms. Holmes said. "We've tried to incorporate that into the show."

She added that although the brightly colored costumes look authentically Caribbean, they're mostly from local Goodwill stores.

"We've been buying curtains to cut up," she noted, and for the grand hommes' ball, "all the doilies we can find," for lace trim on dresses.

"Island" will star Yin Yin Ou as Ti Moune and Bennett Washburn as Daniel Beauxhommes. Stern Herd will play Papa Ge, Sarah Shepherd will be Asaka, Peter Curtis will play Agwe and Elspeth Powell will be Erzulie.

Hannah Strong will play Mama Euralie and Jeremy Ernstoff will be Tonton Julian.

Did you take photos during rehearsals, preparations or performances of a local high school musical? Upload your images on Posted, our photo sharing site. Be sure to include the name of the musical and the high school.