The Renton Civic Theater has stepped up to save the Summer Teen Musical, which had lost its City of Renton funding this year.

That means the musical can celebrate its 25th anniversary, even if it’s no longer a city program.

A key piece of the theater’s plan to produce the teen musical was a waiver on the rental fees to use Carco Theater and staff costs, totalling $7,330. The City Council approved that waiver Monday night.

Almost immediately word began to spread the musical was saved. Vincent Orduna, the city’s cultural arts coordinator, said he has been inundated with calls.

After hearing of the production’s fate, Bill Huls, artistic director for the Renton Civic Theater, approached the City of Renton about producing the show. City officials had said it would take community involvement to save programs lost to budget cuts.

“It is something to keep going and it’s important to the community, especially for the kids,” said Huls.

The Renton Civic Theater will produce the musical. This year, it’s “13 the Musical,” a coming-of-age story about middle-school students.

“The music is very exciting,” said Orduna, who has played key roles in producing the musical series.

Teens ages 13 to 19 can call Carco Theater starting Monday to sign up for an audition, according to Orduna. The number is 425-430-6707. The show will have somewhere between 15 and 35 actors.

“I think it’s going to be a very smooth transition,” Orduna said.

The theater will provide sets, directors, stage managers and crews, basically everything needed to put on the musical, Huls said. The City of Renton has offered to help with costumes and props from its own stores, said Kris Stimpson, the city’s recreation supervisor.

The city will have no out-of-pocket expenses, she said.

The plan for the future is to “keep it (the teen musical) long-term and make it grow,” Huls said. The theater also might offer classes to youth, too.

The City of Renton typically budgeted about $30,000 for the summer musical. Renton Civic Theater’s budget is about $31,000. Even with the fee waiver, the theater is anticipating to lose about $1,400.

But Huls expects the program will grow. As a nonprofit organization, the theater will put any profits back into the musical. Eventually, he expects to at least break even.

Revenue will come mostly from ticket sales, estimated at about $16,950.

“I want the community to support this,” said Stimpson. “They need to put butts in the seats.”