They’re ready to take the stage again at the School for Creative & Performing Arts.

Drew and Lea Lachey, SCPA Class of 1994, have pledged their time and support to revive the musical theater major dropped seven years ago.

“They spent a lot of money on this new building. Now we want to make the inside of the school as great as the outside of the school,” said Drew, 34, who starred in “Rent” and “Spamalot” on Broadway after singing with brother Nick in the 98° boy band.

His wife, the former Lea Dellecave from Western Hills, danced at Radio City Music Hall and choreographed the 98° music videos, tours and TV appearances.

Since they moved back home from Hollywood in 2009, they have wanted to help another generation at SCPA.

“When Lea and I realized the program had been cut altogether, we thought it was a complete travesty,” Drew said.

SCPA artistic director Isidore Rudnick said the Lacheys promised support “in their professional experience and financially” to bring back the music theater curriculum.

“We are absolutely thrilled,” Rudnick said.

The couple, who met in fifth grade at SCPA, will help oversee auditions Saturday to fill 20 slots for the restored major with faculty members Gina Kleesattel and Laurie Wyant-Zenni, their old vocal coach.

“For the past five years, I’ve been focused on being a mom. Now I’m ready,” said Lea, 34. They have two children, Isabella, 4, and Hudson, 9½ months.

The Lacheys plan to be at SCPA this fall three or four mornings a week. Cincinnati Ballet dancer Jay Goodlet, a 1992 SCPA grad, also will instruct students, they said.

Before school starts, they will lead a two-week summer camp preparing the students for their major, she said.

They’ve also talked to friends in Los Angeles and New York about speaking to classes.

“I’ll never forget when Gregory Hines and other professionals came to talk to students,” Lea said. Hines shot “A Rage in Harlem” here in 1990.

“They know what it takes to audition, and what it takes to succeed,” she said. “That’s very important to a 16- or 17-year-old student thinking about getting in the business.”

The Lacheys also want to take the revived program far beyond the walls of the new $72 million Erich Kunzel Center for Arts and Education at 108 W. Central Parkway, Over-the-Rhine.

When they were at SCPA, musical theater students performed around town and across Europe. Before their junior year, Drew and Lea toured France and Germany in an SCPA troupe.

“Music theater majors were the ones out representing the school, doing performances for corporate groups, private parties, at Children’s Hospital and nursing homes,” Drew said. He plans to seek support for the program from Procter & Gamble, Macy’s and other companies.

“Schools across the country are struggling with budget cuts. More people need to realize how they can contribute, and ease the impact of the cuts,” Drew said.

The Lacheys’ commitment comes a year after Nick Lachey co-created and served as executive producer for MTV’s “Taking the Stage” reality show, filmed at SCPA. Rudnick said he still gets e-mails from “students around the country” mentioning the show.

“I tell the students every day that all the students who came before them helped make this building possible,” Rudnick said.

“I know it sounds like a cliché, but you want to give back,” Drew said. “We moved back here to raise our family. We want to make the city an amazing place for our kids, and their kids.”

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