It’s a toe-tapping, hum-along kind of evening at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center these days.

Albert Lea Community Theatre is taking a fun romp back to the girl songs of the 1950s with its new musical revue, “The Taffetas.” The play, directed by Rory Mattson, begins its two-week run tonight.

“The Taffetas,” written by Rick Lewis, is the story of four sisters from Muncie, Ind., who set out to perform on a 1950s musical variety show, “Spotlight on Music.” The sisters — Kaye, Peggy, Cheryl and Donna — highlight some of the greatest songs from the ‘50s.

As they begin their performance, they learn Ed Sullivan may be watching. If they can get a spot on the “Ed Sullivan Show,” immortality is certain for the group. Before this, the biggest thing for The Taffetas has been singing at the Moose Club in Muncie, as well as the grand opening of the IGA there.

“The Taffetas” takes the audience back to a simpler, more innocent time. The women exclaim with words like “Golly!” and “Gee Whiz!”

In the banter that goes on between sets of songs, the audience learns just how much Peggy (Rebecca Ogilvie) yearns to be just like her homemaker mother and that Kaye (Sue Wiersma) loves to write in her diary and hopes to have it published as “My Life in Taffeta.” Cheryl (Carla Reichel) is a little more boy-crazy than the rest, but innocently answers the question, “How far will you go on a first date?” with the fact that she once went to Honey Creek, which is about 20 miles south of Muncie.

Donna (Brittany Stouwie) just wants to ride around in a convertible with the top down.

But mostly, this is about the music.

The Taffetas group their songs into medleys, and the audience is treated medleys of pet songs, boy songs and travel songs.

Some of the songs include: “Sh-Boom,” “Mr. Sandman,” “Johnny Angel,” “How Much Is That Doggy in the Window,” “Old Cape Cod,” “You Belong to Me,” “Sincerely,” “Where the Boys Are,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Volare,” “Lollipop” and “Little Darlin.’”

The quartet is accompanied by Laura Virgil on keyboards, Merle Krause on drums and Theresa Iverson on bass. Steve Schwartz plays the announcer.

Barb Lang created the wonderful costumes – red polka-dotted dresses for the first act and pink poodle skirts for the second. Choreographer is Jody Ellertson. She even had the singers using their big puffy skirts as bells in one of the numbers.

Set design of the Dumont Television Theatre studio is by Crystal Schatz.

The show lasts just under 90 minutes, which includes a 15-minute intermission and time for “a word from our sponsor, Galaxy Beauty Products.” It’s a wonderful escape and definitely appropriate entertainment for all ages. The women have beautiful voices and the songs are fun.

“The Taffetas” runs tonight through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. It continues May 5-8 with a 7:30 p.m. curtain time. Single admission prices are $17 for adults and $12 for students. The box office number is 377-4371.