RALEIGH — Inside Memorial Auditorium on Aug. 13, a production crew warms the stage lights — beams of gold, blue and green bounce off the mahogany walls and more than 2,000 empty seats. Sound is checked. Props are positioned just so.

Knightdale teenagers Ivy McCreary, Rachel Bahler and Elizabeth Pucel smile as their eyes fixate on the stage.

“Completely, utterly overwhelmed,” said McCreary, 17. “I’d never dreamed anything like this.”

For three weeks straight, seven hours each day, the teens rehashed lines, choreographed steps and sometimes skipped meals to prepare for their Aug. 18-19 performances of “Aida,” an epic tale of love and betrayal.

Set in ancient Egypt, the play tells of a love triangle among Aida, an Ethiopian princess stolen from her country; Amneris, an Egyptian princess; and Radames, the soldier they both love.

The Wake County Public School System partnered with Broadway Series South to stage the full student cast and orchestra production.

McCreary, a senior at Knightdale High, and Pucel, 15, a junior there, are part of the dancing ensemble. Bahler, 17, an Enloe senior, plays Amneris.

“I guess that will be the epitome of adrenaline,” Bahler said of performing this weekend.

Bahler has been in about every play at her school. But nothing, she said, can compare to “Aida.”

“It’s what being a professional actor is all about.” Plus, she said with a smile, she gets internship credits.

Last year, Pucel was at Memorial watching the production of “Camelot.” “I never thought I’d be (part of a play),” she said. “I’m so excited. Going to dance in something like this, it wasn’t likely going to happen for me.”

This summer, it hasn’t been the music of 50 Cent or any other popular artist blaring from McCreary’s speakers — she rocked the “Aida” soundtrack. “Mom probably got tired of it,” she said, grinning.

The girls returned their eyes to the stage, dimly lit as the production crew continued adding final touches. Their jaws dropped. “Cool!” they said.