While some kids have been playing video games or hanging out at the mall this summer, 30 local teens have been rehearsing for the 26th annual Summer Teen Musical.

“Bye, Bye Birdie” opens this weekend at the Carco Theater in Renton.

This year’s cast features seasoned and new performers from Renton, Issaquah, Kent, Fairwood and surrounding areas. They have been rehearsing since mid-June to bring the musical to the stage.

“Bye, Bye Birdie” is the story of Conrad Birdie, who is loosely based on Elvis Presley’s life. Birdie gets drafted to go off to war and a scheme is hatched as to who will get his last kiss. In the wings, there is a tumultuous love story between Birdie’s agent Albert Peterson and his secretary, Rosie Alvarez.

Eighteen-year-old Nick Hyett-Schnell plays the part of Albert Peterson. He’s acted in the Summer Teen Musical for four years and now considers himself to be a veteran. His experience with the theater group has been an education. He started out looking up to the older kids in the show and eventually acquired enough knowledge to turn around and be a role model to the younger actors.

“We pretty much learned everything we know here,” said Hyett-Schnell.

He plans to study musical theater at Central Washington University in the fall.

Director Laura McGinnis calls the production “community building at its finest.”

The show brings together teens from different areas and parents with one common goal in mind, she said.

“It teaches the kids about community, that it’s just not one person,” McGinnis said. “It’s about all these people and we couldn’t do it without all these people coming together.”

For 15-year-old Casi Goodman it’s an inside peak at what life would be like as a professional actress.

“I feel like you learn a lot about what it’s like to be in a professional theater, while still learning how to act and how to portray yourself on stage,” she said.

But, to her it’s also just a fun summer experience. She plays the part of Rosie Alvarez.

Blake Jones, who plays Conrad Birdie, was a little nervous at first despite having played leading roles in most of his previous school performances. Auditioning was a new experience for him and he didn’t know anyone except for one friend.

Now in the production’s final weeks before opening, the 16-year-old said he’s enjoyed all the people involved with the musical.

Samantha Hefford-Anderson thinks that the theater experience gives “kids important skills they can use throughout their lives.”

It was a good way to learn how to work with people you love and people you don’t like, said the 14-year-old.

“Because when it comes down to it, even if you’re cast in a role where you are best friends with somebody, but your characters are enemies – you have to learn how to work around that,” she said.

Hefford-Anderson plays Kim MacAfee, the teenage girl who is chosen to receive the last kiss from Birdie.

The production is presented by the Renton Civic Theater and Wizards of the Coast in association with the City of Renton Parks and Recreation Department.

At a time when arts programs are being cut, “this is one place for these kids who maybe don’t shine in sports or shine in other areas,” said McGinnis. “They can come shine on the stage and feel really good about what they’re doing.”

“BYE BYE BIRDIE”

WHAT: The Summer Teen Musical for 2011

WHEN: 8 p.m., July 22-23, 29-30, and 2 p.m., July 24 and 31

WHERE: Carco Theater, 1717 Maple Valley Highway. in Renton

COST: $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors

TICKETS: Available online at http://www.rentoncivictheater.org/tickets.html#stm. They’re also available at the door.