MARQUETTE — Student actors are busy this week during tech and dress rehearsals for the first production of the season for NMU. ABC Ten’s Sarah Mac got to go back–stage, or rather in the thrust, to get a sneak peak at the season’s opening play.

When we say thrust we mean a type of playing space that the actors will use for their first performance, where the audience seating is on three sides of the stage area. NMU will open their 2015–16 season next week with California Suite, a comedy by Neil Simon.

Student Director Alysa Spivak says, “You know this is a comedy, but there are different types of comedy in this play. There’s physical comedy, but then this play can be very talkie based, and it’s just line after line. So, yeah, there’s different forms of comedy in this whole show, and there’s also dramatic moments as well, so it’s kind of a show for everybody.”

The play is divided into four “playlets”, or four short plays. The ‘playlets’ take place in rooms 203 and 204 of The Beverly Hills Hotel and follows events in the lives of the hotel guests.

Student Actor Korrine Griffith says, “I play Diane Nichols, who is a married actress, and she is in California for the Academy Awards, and she’s nominated for best actress, and so our scene is basically before and after the awards ceremony. So Diane tends to be a little bit of a over–analyzer, anxious, and then afterwards maybe a little bit sassy is the best way to put it, without giving too much away.”

Another interesting aspect about this production is that it will be held in a black box theater, which is a more intimate space and offers the audience a different kind of experience.”

The show opens next week and will run through October 3rd. General admission tickets start at $15 with discounted rates for students and groups. This show does have mature language and adult themes.

For more information and ticket sales click here.

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