The variety show at St. Joseph High School will celebrate a special anniversary — the 40th year.

“It was in 1976 when they started doing an annual show,” Maria Whaley, variety show director, said. “They did some form of the performing arts in 1976. In 1978, it took the format that we have now.”

This year the theme is based on Jimmy Fallon’s Tonight show.”

“We have about 56 kids or three quarters of the high school participate in the variety show,” Whaley said. “There are another 12 doing backstage work and pre-show set up. By the time we have added it all together there is almost 100 percent participation.”

The students and Whaley start in the fall searching for songs; by February songs are chosen followed by two days of writing workshops where skits are created.

“We started on the music four weeks ago,” she said. “This week is all rehearsals, blocking and technical.”

On performance night there is a dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. with performance at 7:30 p.m.

General admission is $7 at the door and the dinner is $15 for adults and $10 for students.

To make reservations for dinner, call the high school at 740-532-0485.