When the 54th Annual Santa Cruz Follies takes the Civic Auditorium stage Wednesday, September 16, it will be the culmination of more than a year of work. Director Jo Luttringer started searching for the music last summer, the dancers began rehearsing a few of their steps in November and auditions for individual pieces took place in February.

“Everybody’s a volunteer, so scheduling is a bit difficult sometimes,” Luttringer said. “They try to be here as often as they can and work as hard as they can.”

The show, themed “That’s Entertainment,” features 36 seniors in a fast-paced variety act that starts with a circus, ventures through vaudeville, dashes through patriotic Americana and winds up with a dramatic grand finale. Numbers include “I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate,” ” Bosom Buddies” from Mame, “My Romance” from Jumbo and more. The entire cast belongs to the Market Street Senior Center, which earns monetary support during the show’s five performances.

Make no mistake: “This isn’t just a show for old folks by old folks,” said Luttringer, who also directed in 2006 . “This is a high-class, professional production.”

A local tradition, tour buses drive in from across California and as far away as Nevada to see the production. The oldest person in the show, a dancer, is in her mid-80s. The youngest will skate by at 50 before the show opens. Stage experience varies from amateurs learning new skills to professionals who made a living in the theater.

Lynn Knudsen, the show’s publicist and a cast member, is one of the latter. The former Broadway dancer who worked with Bob Fosse in Sweet Charity saw a notice about the Folllies four years ago and became involved as a stage manager.

“I went to my first rehearsal and watched the director run the show and at the end was just speechless because the talent was exciting and the show was just wonderful,” said Knudsen, who retired to Santa Cruz from Los Angeles.

Knudsen, who began her Broadway career in the original cast of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, plans to perform “Take Back Your Mink” from Guys and Dolls.

The Follies also includes a rivalry between Mame and Dolly (of Hello Dolly), along with everything from cowboys to cats. Director Luttringer loves the circus section with its color and charm. A gentleman juggles scarves, while another senior tames lions.

“The costumes are just phenomenal,” Luttringer said.

In college, Luttringer studied drama and speech. However, life took her down a different path — that of the electronics trade. The Follies has allowed her to return to her love of the theater.

“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had,” she said.

The 54th Annual Santa Cruz Follies. 1 p.m. September 16, 17 & 19; 1 & 7:30 p.m. September 18. Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, 307 Church Street, Santa Cruz. $18 adults. Children under 12 free. (831) 423-6640.