Sneaking behind closed doors to witness private behavior and conversation has, typically, been irresistible for viewers. Popular plays such as "Noises Off" and "The Dresser," for example, invite the audience backstage for a peek at what they're not supposed to see or hear.

Perhaps a more mainstream example would be reality television. One can't dispute the fact that it can be fun being a fly on the wall, so to speak, as real people attempt to endure stressful situations, unusual predicaments, and even rather personal encounters.

Since our fascination with voyeurism in the form of entertainment is alive and well, the musical "Smile" seems a logical choice. Furthermore, it just may be an opportunity to introduce a show to those who may not be familiar with this lesser-known musical.

Originally released in 1975, the movie "Smile" (directed by Michael Ritchie) reveals the backstage adventures of a group of ladies participating in a California beauty pageant. The film featured Barbara Feldon, Bruce Dern, and Melanie Griffith.

By 1985, the screenplay for "Smile" had been loosely adapted for the stage by legends Marvin Hamlisch (music) and Howard Ashman (book and lyrics). Having received a few Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations, the musical made somewhat of a mark that year.

Since then, the show has been restructured with respect to character, plot, and music. And one of our local theater groups has seized the opportunity to present for us this revised version.

Temecula Valley Players, known for its bold attempts at tackling various genres of theater, ushers in another summer of delightful live entertainment with the musical "Smile," performing Friday through June 28 at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater.

"Imagine the film 'Miss Congeniality' set to music," said director Don Vecchione. "'Smile' is a bit like that."

The principal action involves the highly volatile backstage goings on during the fictional beauty pageant California Young American Miss, held in Santa Rosa. As they prepare for and later present the pageant, a wide variety of character types clash, connect, and conspire while pursuing their individual quests.

Within the cast of 30, there are several featured young ladies who become the central focus.

"Their personalities and dispositions vary, which make for interesting relationships," Vecchione said. "One gets on everybody's nerves while another wants to do her in. And we also have the inexperienced newcomer as well."

Similar to their characters, the performers themselves found that they're members of a rather diverse company of players.

Sarah Cook, who portrays Shawn Christianson, Young American Miss La Jolla, actually graduated from La Jolla High School ('98). Now with two kids, the actress still admits this experience has helped strengthen her endurance level.

"Since I was 10 I've performed in about 45 shows," Cook said. "And this is my sixth show with TVP. But working on this production with a lot of cast members who are younger than myself has taught me the true meaning of patience.

"I have enjoyed being a teenager again," she said. "And it has been great being the one with the mean streak."

Portraying Doria Hudson, Young American Miss Yuba City, Lyndsay Iverson (18) graduated last year from Chaparral High School. Currently attending Mt. San Jacinto College, she'll eventually move on to a university and earn a degree in Musical Theatre.

Iverson has performed in community productions for about 11 years, and, after this show closes, she plans to go right into TVP's production of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."

"Just about every girl dreams of being in a beauty pageant," Iverson said. "I'm one of them, and this show has allowed me to unleash my inner beauty queen. It's been a lot of fun."

Twenty-two year-old Kellen Allen (as Robin Gibson, Young American Miss Antelope Valley) recently moved to Temecula from Arizona, where she earned a BA in Musical Theatre Performance from Arizona State University.

Also planning to segue into "Seven Brides" once "Smile" closes, Allen expressed her ongoing plans to "continue pursuing the dream." But she admits it's always a learning process.

"Working in community theater involves multiple responsibilities," she said. "So, during this production, I've learned a little more about how to work in stressful situations with a lot of different people."

A recent graduate of Elsinore High School, Caitlin Vecchione (18) portrays Sandra-Kay MacAffee, Young American Miss Bakersfield.

"I have been performing for just about my whole life," she said. "It's a family deal."

Apart from this clique of contestants, Zack Sharpe (17) appears as Little Bob, an amateur photographer who relishes the idea of capturing images of the girls showering. Sharpe, soon to be a senior at Chaparral High School, enjoys generating laughs.

"I really like getting reactions from people during rehearsal as well as performance," he said. "The laughter makes me feel great."

Even though these five performers have, collectively, a great deal of experience behind them, they still seem to enjoy the challenges that make staging a full-length production a fulfilling, memorable experience.

"Time management issues were a problem," Cook said. "Rehearsing around absent people was hard. The show has come together well, though, and, despite all the chaos, we're all really excited."

Iverson expressed the difficulty she had.

"Learning the whole sequence of things, the set changes and where to go at various times. It wasn't easy," she said. "But now it's really coming together."

"It's been a challenge finding my character," Allen admitted. "Robin and I are quite different. She's an introvert, for example, but I am not like that at all. And it has been difficult for me to figure out how this girl, who tends to keep things to herself, would open up, reveal herself, at a beauty pageant, where just about everyone involved is used to that kind of display."

"At the beginning of rehearsals for this show I wondered about the many differences between these cast members and whether or not I'd become friends with any of them," Vecchione said. "But this cast has become one of my favorites because we get along so well. There is a wide age range amongst us, and it took a while to find a balance. But we did it."

Sharpe indicated that his biggest challenge has been "making sure I don't take the seriousness of a scene for granted, no matter how many laughs I can get."

It's this kind of insightful, caring, hardworking cast that helps a director feel proud of his project as it nears the completion of the rehearsal process.

"This group is unbelievably talented; their vocals are fantastic, they're consistent with their characters, and they've been a joy to work with," the director said. "My crew is incredible, too. Mark McCullough always does an awesome job with the set, so no worries there."

While his desire to express appreciation continued, this director recognized the value of a good producer.

"When I found out Patti Drew was producing, I was elated," he said. "Patti and I have performed onstage together, as Miss Hannigan and Rooster (in the musical "Annie"), so we have this brother-sister relationship. She's absolutely phenomenal, always supportive, right there for me. If I didn't have Patti Drew, this show would not be a reality."

"Smile"

Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St., Temecula

8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and June 26-27 and 2 p.m. Sunday and June 28

Tickets: $20 adults, $15 children

Info: 866-653-8696