It opened Thursday, April 21, and is running through Friday and Saturday, April 22-23, at 7 p.m. At 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, is a Gala fundraiser.

There is a $5 general admission and it is free to ENMU students with a valid ID.

Gala tickets are $25, discounted to $20 for tickets purchased in groups of three or more. Tickets for active-duty military and their families are $20. Tickets for ENMU students with a current student activity sticker are $10.

All proceeds will go to the Theatre and Digital Filmmaking and Culinary Arts programs.

This was the first play performed on the stage of the new University Theatre Center 25 years ago. It was written in 1938 and is set in Grover’s Corner, New Hampshire, that follows small-town life in three acts.

This play is considered timeless because of the relatable topics of falling in love, marriage and death.

The production will be performed on a nearly bare stage to help focus on the intimate ordinary moments of life that get taken for granted.

This production has 18 actors, some doubling up, to play all 23 characters. The cast includes Department of Theatre majors and minors, a community member and a theatre faculty member.

The director is Anne Beck and the assistant director is Christine Collins.

Beck and Collins, a junior in the theatre department, have been working on the production for about four weeks.

“I think our goal is to build a company. We have chairs lining the stage because at the top of the show the actors are going to be mingling and about five minutes before the show starts they are going to set up the stage for the first act then sit in their chairs. The cast is there to support each other as an ensemble,” said Beck.

Collins’ first time as an assistant director, and working with her peers, has given her a whole new experience and opportunity. She said she has mainly viewed herself as an actor and a “techie” but can now see herself wanting to direct in the future.

“It was a very new experience for me; I haven’t been the right hand of a director before,” she said. “I’ve mainly interacted with the actors, and they see me more as a peer instead of as an assistant director. But I feel comfortable talking to Anne, and am able to share some thoughts the actors have and ask some things that they might be a little timid to ask Anne up front.”

Jonathan Benedetti, an ENMU senior, said it has been “an absolute blessing working with such a talented group of artists one last time, and I’ll never forget this final opening night.”

Chloe Rae Hammock’s character, “Stage Manager,” is traditionally played by a man. She said it has been an absolute blast and honor to take on this character. She is the liaison between the cast and audience and spends most of her time setting up the scene and moving everything along.

“It been an amazing experience. My favorite moments are always the times on stage when I have these little discoveries or ‘ah-ha’ moments when I really connect with someone or think of something differently,” explained Hammock, whose biggest “ah-ha” moment was during the third act.

Katie Gessner, a junior in the theatre program, said this has been her easiest production so far because of the bare stage has made it easy to focus on her acting and learning her character.

“My favorite moment is right before the play starts and we are all just hanging out on stage having fun,” said Gessner.

Chasen Cooper has enjoyed working on this piece because, “Thorton Wilder is really a true American classic and Our Town is so integral to the dramatic cannon--so it’s an honor to work with the piece.”

He enjoys working with Beck, whom he respects and finds to be a brilliant director.

Kyle Thomason said, “It’s been a great experience working on it. I feel like I’ve really grown from the experience. My favorite moment was the first time everyone really clicked.”

Ethan Bilbrey, an ENMU senior, has found this a great production to wrap up his senior year.

“Our director, cast and crew have worked very hard and we are excited to share this with everyone.”

For more information, call 575-562-2711.