The great ship Titanic will sink once again, this time on a stage in Carnegie with a cast of 62 actors who range in age from 5 to 82.

Equipment has already been built to create the special effects of a luxury ocean liner sinking without the benefit of water, said Rob James, of Crafton, the technical director who designed the sets for "Titanic," a musical production of Stage 62.

He's also president of the community theater group whose name was derived from the year it was formed -- 1962.

The curtain goes up for Titanic at 8 p.m. tomorrow in the Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Ave., Carnegie. There will be eight more performances over three weekends.

Unlike the movie, there will be no Rose or Jack characters on the decks of this Titanic. They were fictional characters in the blockbuster hit movie that was released in December 1997.

Actors in the stage production "are all portraying real people," Mr. James said, including Isidor Straus, owner of Macy's department store, and his wife, Ida. They died when the ship sank in the icy Atlantic Ocean in 1912.

The play was never a bid to capitalize on the success of the "Titanic" movie, Mr. James said. "The play came out first," on Broadway in April 1997. It was a hit and won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

At a full-cast rehearsal one week before opening night, actors portrayed Titanic passengers.

The Stage 62 cast features many real-life family members playing family members on the ill-fated ship.

Two 5-year-olds are making their stage debuts -- Madison Bruno, of Carnegie, and Sydney Martin, of Mt. Lebanon.

Madison is the daughter of Steve and Meagan Bruno, who perform in this play and many other Stage 62 productions. Mrs. Bruno teaches music and voice in the West Allegheny School District, where she also directs and produces musicals.

Sydney was on stage with her father, Chris Martin, and his mother-in-law, Kathy Habovick, of Scott.

Ed Gergerich, of the city's Brighton Heights neighborhood, was on stage with daughters Anna, 17, and Maura, 14.

Other cast members include Sandy Boggs, of Scott, and daughter Adrienne Elion, 11; Sara Barbisch, of Carnegie, her mother, Debbie Macerelli, and brother, Jared, all of McDonald; and Michelle Nowakowski and daughters Ruby, 15, and Ivy, 11.

Wanda Clay, 82, of Carnegie, is in her ninth Stage 62 production.

The troupe has about 100 members and puts on four productions a year, Mr. James said. "Titanic" rehearsals started right after Labor Day, and are held four times per week from 7:30 to 10 p.m.

"Nobody is getting paid," Mr. James said with a chuckle. "We are florists, bankers, teachers, lawyers, housewives, retirees" and more. "We run the gamut. These are just people who love the theater."

Mr. James, a Carlynton High School graduate, does musicals in the school district and puts on "camps around town."

Like many Stage 62 members, Mr. James has done just about every task including acting. Although he builds sets, he swears he's not a carpenter and says he is not handy with repairs in his own home.

"I'm basically self-taught," he said. "I call it the 40-foot rule. The sets only have to look good to audiences who are 40 feet away."

Stage 62 has held its rehearsals and productions in the music hall since 1990. "We've found a great home here," he said.

Run time is 2 hours and 20 minutes, plus intermission.

"Titanic" will be performed at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2 p.m. Sundays this weekend, and Nov. 13-15 and 20-21. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and students. Group rates are available.

Visit www.stage62.org/titanic/ to order tickets and for information about auditions and productions.

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