Fittingly it seems as COVID-19 vaccinations roll out and restrictions are eased, the theme of this spring’s Black Magic performance will be “Happily Ever After.”

Set for 7:30 p.m. April 29 and 30 and 1 p.m. May 1 in the Ector Theatre, tickets are $15 for students and $10 for children.

Associate Choir Director Stephanie Burton said there are 16 vocalists and nine band members, including sound people.

The group has been working on the show since January. The theme was meant to be positive and uplifting.

“I think it’s going to be so much fun. I like the combination of the arts. There’s dancing, with the Panther Paws joining us; there’s acting; the kids do skits. There’s instrument playing. To me it’s a celebration of all the arts,” Burton said.

She added that the effort to get the show in shape has been time consuming.

“It’s strenuous,” Burton said. “They have to be really selfless with their time, and then of course, they have to be academically passing everything in order to participate … Most of our kids are in the top 10 percent. These kids amaze me; being able to multitask like this and do it so well it’s pretty impressive,” Burton said.

Permian High School choir students Alexis Allen, left, Kallan Grewell, center, Krislynn Aguilar-Baeza rehearse for the Black Magic Mojo Show themed “Happily Ever After” Thursday at Permian High School. “Happily Ever After” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on April 29 and April 30 and again at 1 p.m. May 1 at the Ector Theatre. (Jacob Ford|Odessa American)

They hadn’t rehearsed in the Ector Theatre yet, but they are looking forward to it. It is a new venue for the show, Burton said.

“We’ve been at FBC (First Baptist Church) and at Crossroads,” Burton said.

Sam Weaks plays keyboards in Black Magic. The 17-year-old is a junior at George H.W. Bush New Tech Odessa and this is his second year in the group.

The show, he said, will be a culmination of what they have been working on this year.

“And it’ll be just a spectacular medley of solos and group songs all sitting under the theme of Happily Ever After. And there’ll be fun songs, there’ll be deep songs, there will be love songs and songs to get you on your feet. Just in general, it’ll be an awesome night of music, both from vocalists and from our band, which has been working hard as well,” Weaks said.

He added that the Christmas show has Christmas spirit.

“But for me, there’s also something so special about getting to have a theme. And this year it being Happily Ever After is so magical for us because we get to go out there and tell a story with the music itself, which I think is something that no one else really gets to do,” Weaks said.

“… We’ll get to have a lot of fun and also have a lot of good moments. This one will be a little bit more normal, if you will, compared to the Christmas show. …,” he added.

He noted that COVID safety precautions will be in place.

Weaks said he plans to try out for Black Magic again next year.

“I’m really excited to continue with Black Magic because it’s kind of interesting how your youth years fly by and it feels like I just yesterday got the call that I made it … and yet it also feels like it’s already about to be over with just one year left, so it’s really fun to get to make the most of it,” Weaks said.

He added that the show will be stunning and loaded with talent.

“I really can’t wait for us to be able to unveil it and all of our hard work. I think anyone who comes is going to walk away with some really great memories,” Weaks said.

Permian High School choir students Kyler Fife and Alexis Allen rehearse for the Black Magic Mojo Show themed “Happily Ever After” Thursday at Permian High School. “Happily Ever After” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on April 29 and April 30 and again at 1 p.m. May 1 at the Ector Theatre. (Jacob Ford|Odessa American)

Alexis Allen, an 18-year-old senior, is in her second year with Black Magic. She is a vocalist and will be going to Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., to study commercial music.

Allen said that with the world being “full of negativity right now” the Happily Ever After theme offers hope.

“Despite all the hard times that we’re in right now, we can still have the happy moments …,” Allen added.

Like her teachers, she agrees this has been a difficult year because of COVID and the restrictions it brings.

“It’s been really hard to make those kinds of connections when you can’t be physically close to each other. But we’ve done our best and I think we’ve been able to accommodate for that,” Allen said.

Permian High School Choir