SANDUSKY - Jessica Ralph performs with a modern and African dance troupe in New York City.

But for the summer she came back to her hometown on a leave of absence to work as a live entertainer at Cedar Point.

"It's definitely competitive, not as much as Broadway, but amusement parks and cruise ships are good shows to work for before trying to reach Broadway," the 23-year-old said.

When Ralph tried out at Cedar Point in March, she thought her chances were pretty good.

However, she didn't know it would be as competitive as it was.

Including performers, technicians and costumed characters, there's about 100 open spots for the 2,000 who try out annually.

Auditions are hosted at Cedar Point and throughout the country.

"I would say anybody we offer a part at least were the stars in their high schools and mostly the stars in college," said Marje Rody, vice president of live entertainment at Cedar Point.

Much to her delight, Ralph ended up making the show "Livin' In America," a musical at the Centennial Theatre.

Still, the professionally trained dancer has had her work cut out for her.

"This show is a challenge in a different way," Ralph said. "It incorporates singing with dancing. This show is stylized jazz. I am trained in jazz, modern, hip-hop and African."
 

But that's what performing at Cedar Point is all about, Rody said.

"You get your professional chops here."

Amusement parks are the best places to get experience and learn to be a professional, Rody said. They will do 300-plus performances for the summer. Sometimes they do four, five or six shows per day, she said.

Live entertainment started at Cedar Point in the late 1960s when the park began to bring in hired acts.

In 1976, when Rody started, Cedar Point took over the shows.

Over the years, the shows have changed. Popular shows might stick around for a while, but there's usually some modification at least. This summer, there are seven shows with scheduled performances. "Divine Divas" is one the new shows.

Last year, Cedar Point won Best Production for "Twistin' to the Sixties;" and Erich DiCenzo won best male performer. The Big-E awards are given by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Cedar Point has won others in years past.
 

Former Cedar Point performers have gone on to the big time in productions such as "The Lion King," "Annie Get Your Gun," "The Producers," "Fosse" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," among many others.

"Working an amusement park show is good because it's like real life," Rody said. "Things will happen during the show that you will have to deal with -- allergies, a zipper will get stuck -- and the show will go on."

Like many of those who visit the Point, Ralph used to be naive to the dancing and singing around them.

"When I was young and coming to Cedar Point I didn't know about the dance shows," said Ralph, a 2001 Sandusky High School graduate. "My parents would me to the dolphin shows and stuff, but not the dances."

Rody said the shows are a break from the rides. Some people don't even go on rides.

"We are part of the attractions," Rody said. "You can get a day of entertainment. Come here, stop and eat and see shows. It is special. I tell the performers to remember that."
 

Surprisingly, preparation for the shows begins not long before the guests are watching.

In a matter of two weeks, the performers are learning the dance steps and singing the songs during an intensive rehearsal process that runs 12 hours per day, six days per week.

After the first week of rehearsing in the studios at the park in the live entertainment office, the performers are rehearsing on stage. By the second week of June, Ralph's show was performing for audiences.

"It went well," she said of the first show. "It is a different audience; they are appreciative, but not trained in theater etiquette."

People will come up and ask how she does so many costume changes (she does five), which she doesn't get in New York City.

But performers know this is the first professional show some people might be seeing. Guest satisfaction is a primary concern.

"The first show needs to be as good as the last," said Lisa Jones, show supervisor and choreographer. "When we rehearse, we work on stamina. We do the show four or five times.
 

"We want the audience to see equally as good of a show," she said.

Jones holds closed rehearsals for troubleshooting before the show goes live to correct problems, such as someone's top falling off.

"This is a family show," she said, laughing.

Losing a wig is the worst trouble that usually happens during the actual show, Jones said.

Rody said some performers come back after one year, but only a few do three years.

"It is pretty tough work," she said. "Burnout is pretty high."

The average age of performers is 21. There's about an equal number of men and women.

Performers make $440 per week, plus an $8 bonus per week given when they complete their contract.

After Cedar Point, they'll do a cruise ship; move to Los Angeles or New York; or some people will try regional theater, Rody said.

Some will be invited back to inspire the young performers.

Others come back for another summer at Cedar Point.
 

"We want it to be something they can be proud of," Rody said. "We want them to be able to grow. You can study, study, but it is the doing, doing.

"It is a mean business. We try to give them some survivor skills," she said.