The theater department has begun rehearsals for two upcoming productions. ‘Over the River and Through the Woods’ will have performances in the Black Box on September 26 and 28 at 7 p.m., and the 29th at 2 p.m. ‘Picnic’ will have performances in the PAC on October 10 and 12 at 7 p.m., and the 13th at 7 p.m.

“It was really cool to have a big group of seniors but now they’re moving onto bigger and better things,” theater director Taylor Jarman said. “I’m really excited to see these younger actors begin to take on these bigger lead roles, and excited to see what our program does now with this new group of actors and leaders taking the reins of the department.”

Both productions are rehearsing at the same time, though they will have different opening weekends. Taylor Jarman and Kari Mckenzie are directing both shows together.

“These shows are focusing a lot on bringing truth in acting and growing in acting,” theater director Kari McKenzie said. “We feel like with these scripts that are so strongly rooted in the relationships of the characters as opposed to the spectacle of the show.”

‘Over the River and Through the Woods’ is an endearing comedy centering around a family living in New Jersey. The main character, Nick, learns how to love his grandparents even though their support often feels smothering.

“The Black Box experience is new for everyone except Emma, so having the audience right in front of you is a scary, but thrilling concept,” junior Alex Gaba said. “It also allows us to do things that we normally couldn’t do on the main stage.”

‘Picnic’ is a drama centering around a neighborhood’s Labor Day picnic. After a man named Hal Carter comes to their town for work, he shakes up the neighborhood picnic by attracting every woman he meets.

“I’m enjoying ‘Picnic’ a lot because it’s such a different show,” junior Alli Somes said. “The extreme realism is something new, and I’m super excited to study it.”