Can two lovers stay together despite a freeway that divides them? Just follow the yellow tape, like traffic lines, from the Paly parking lot to Haymarket Theater to watch the world premier of the musical “Love Songs in Traffic” to find out.

A story about love intertwined with the controversial extension of L.A.’s 710 freeway slated to relieve traffic congestion by connecting the historic city of Pasadena with neighboring Alhambra, the new musical, written by Paly choir director, Michael Najar, debuted on March 17. According to theater director Kristen Lo, about 150 tickets were sold to the opening night performance. A gala in the small gym, with dancing to live music by Backlight, a Hipnotik performance, dessert and a silent auction capped the evening.

The L.A. freeway, a traffic light, and a radio station decorated the stage, as freshman Jovan Bennett, playing CalTrans official Dave Doheny, and junior Kat Cravens, playing Pasadena Preservationist and former Pasadena Rose Queen Sarah McIntosh, delivered a heartfelt performance of “If I Could Write You A Song.”

Through a comical dinner scene and a fiery protest, the musical addresses the issues of class and race, presenting misunderstandings in a light-hearted, witty manner.

While speaking to Bennett, senior Mary Hewlett, who plays Pasadena Preservationist Mrs. Deitline, says, “Look Dave, this is our community and no one’s going to touch it.”

This uncompromising attitude is dominant throughout the musical, as the two cities battle the 710’s extension. During one protest, Pasadena Preservationists hold “Save our city” picket signs, while Alhambra residents angrily grasp signs labeled “Extend the 710.” Though the extension would help ease terrible congestion on the L.A. freeways and put an end to traffic overflow through the residential neighborhood of Alhambra, it would also extend right through the city of Pasadena.

Former Paly parent Kent Vickery credited the show for accurately capturing this tension in L.A.

“I loved it,” Vickery said. “I loved how the show captured the flavor of L.A.”

Audience member and Paly parent Noël Beitler agreed.

“I thought it was marvelous,” Beitler said. “I loved the energy. I loved how fresh it was. I loved everything about it.”

A cast of 32 began the show with the expected nervousness of opening night, yet quickly warmed up, according to Office 3 and Chorus member senior Jon Morag.

“We were a little scared at first, but all together we rocked the house,” Morag said.

Sophomore chorus member Keerthi Naidu agreed.

“I’m really proud how we came together,” Naidu said. “I think we acted off the audience. When you hear them laughing, you want to make them laugh even more.”

Najar began working on the musical in 1997, though seventy-five percent of his work occurred during the past five months, Najar said.

With a musical in the making, come difficulties on both a macro and micro level, according to Najar. Throughout the creative process, Najar’s questions have ranged from ‘does this structure work?’ to ‘does this joke work?’

At the end of the day, though, the final test comes down to the performance.

“You can rehearse it all day long, but you need an audience,” Najar said. “You have to perform it.”

Though powerful music, lyrics, and story are the key to any successful musical, one of the greatest challenges, according to Najar, is making unique characters capable of overcoming struggles.

“It’s really about developing characters,” Najar said. “That’s the goal in writing any story. Then it makes everything else come to life.”

Regarding casting, Beitler said, “I loved the casting. I thought everyone was so right for his or her part.”

Addressing the crowd at the opening night gala, Najar said, “Before the show began, I told the students ‘thank you, thank you, thank you.’ They were tremendously inspirational and funny and brought so much to the show.”

“It’s a new experience,” Bennett said about performing a musical for its first time ever. “I hope it blows up and becomes something really awesome so that I can say ‘I did that first.’”

Though the future for this new musical remains uncertain, audience members such as Beitler and Vickery foresee success.

“I thought it was the west coast answer to east coast Broadway,” Beitler said.

Pointing to the program, Vickery said, “This might be a collector’s item someday.”

Najar remains confident about his musical’s future.

When asked whether the show will be performed again in the future, Najar said, “I know it will. It’s a matter of when and where. Every musical goes through a workshop phase. We’re working out the kinks.”

“Love Songs in Traffic” will be performed on Wednesday, March 22 at 4 p.m., and again Thursday through Saturday, March 23-25 at 8 p.m.

For information call theater director Kristen Lo at 650-329-3857.