Many of us have a vivid memory of a moment on a stage. Whether you played the lead in the high school play, or you sang in the chorus in an elementary school musical | and whether you hit every note or forgot your lines | we've all been there.

But many home-schooled children don't have the same performance opportunities as their public-schooled counterparts.

That's why a group of local mothers joined together to form a theater program exclusively for their home-schooled students.

Their production, "American History Alive," makes its debut at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 14 at the Our Savior Lutheran Church in Topsfield. Admission to the show is free.

There are 36 children in the cast from about 10 families, ranging from preschoolers to eighth-graders. Not one student who auditioned was turned away, and everyone that wanted a singing role got the chance.

"We knew that this play was going to need a hefty cast, so we were welcoming people to join," said Alexandra Mezzina of North Andover, an assistant director and mother of five home-schooled children. "We had auditions, but they weren't strict. It had more leeway, and we took into account things like if someone had a lead role last year. We gave people the opportunity to try things they wanted to try. If they didn't want a lot of lines, we accommodated that. And everyone that wanted a solo was able to get one."

Directed by Lynne Quinlan of North Andover, the play is a trip through history that begins with pre-Columbian America and ends with the Civil War. It is set at the Statehouse in Boston, where a class of children are eager to learn more about history. A supernatural character, Historiana, then magically appears to bring in the historical figures and their tales.

The play features speeches from Robert E. Lee, Abraham Lincoln, Patrick Henry and more.

"It's absolutely incredible," said Topsfield mom Sandie Sienkiewicz, who also home schools her five children. "It looks like a professional production."

The moms involved have each taken on a different role to help make this year's play a reality. Each mom is costuming her own children.

"It's been a joint effort on every level," said Sienkiewicz, whose job has been to help prepare the preschoolers for their singing cameos in the play.

Because the original version of the play seemed a little dry, Quinlan decided to spice it up by adding a game show of historical trivia.

"It's more kid-friendly," explained Mezzina's 9-year-old daughter, Natalie. "It's exciting and fun."

Most of the families involved are from the North Shore area, but the group has added participants from as far as away as Franklin.

"A couple of years ago, a couple of friends got together and it just kind of grew from there," Mezzina said. "Last year the play was a little bit bigger, and this year it exploded."

This is the third year that the home-school group has come together to produce a play. Their inaugural production in 2005 was "Robin Hood," and last year they tackled "The Selfish Giant." This year's play, however, has proved to be a trying experience for the group as they continue to grow.

"It's the most challenging of the three years we've done it because of the size of the cast," said Mezzina. "And really, we're just a bunch of moms. ... It takes a lot of energy, and we've had to rise to the occasion."

But the hard work is worth it for these dedicated parents, to see the enjoyment and growth in their children.

"My daughter couldn't wait to do it again this year," Sienkiewicz said. "The kids really look forward to it."

"I think as an enrichment thing, it's a great opportunity," Mezzina said. "We're working with other kids, and working cooperatively with other families."

In addition to the larger scale of the production, this year's play is also tied into a history co-op that the home-school group does together every year. Each mom chooses a different history topic, and then tailors her teaching to a certain age level of students that she's been assigned.

The cooperative learning program and the play performance reach far beyond just a moment in the spotlight for some of the children.

"It's a nice way to combine academics with the social exposure for the kids," Sienkiewicz said. "They're exposed to other moms doing the teaching, so they're not always with us the whole time."

Performing in "American History Alive" has helped the historical themes and characters come alive for the students.

Mezzina's daughter Hannah has two famous speeches to memorize for the show. The 11-year-old is playing Robert E. Lee and Betsy Ross.

"I've been rehearsing my lines for three or four weeks," Hannah said.

The parents agree the production would not have been possible without the open arms of the Our Savior Lutheran Church in Topsfield.

"They have been so fantastic the last three years with our plays and our co-op," Mezzina said. "They've been so welcoming with the space and all the kids coming in. They've been so gracious."

All in all, the home-school theater group is aimed at providing a fun, social activity while also giving every interested student their chance in the spotlight.

"Our experience has been wonderful because all of our children are included," Sienkiewicz said. "Contrary to what some people think, home-school kids aren't stuck inside 24 hours a day."