ROCHELLE — It’s almost curtain call for the Rochelle Township High School’s fall play, “Almost, Maine.”

The cast and crew have been working on the finishing touches in time for the first show Thursday, Sept. 20. Two additional shows are on Friday and Saturday. 

All shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $5, students and educators $2. 

RTHS Theater Arts Advisor Amy Creuziger said she likes to give students the opportunity to experience many types of plays.

“Our audience can expect to laugh and be moved as we look at different stories of love,” Creuziger said. “We see new love, enduring love and lost love. [Playwright] John Cariani makes the figurative real in his script. We see people literally ‘falling’ in love, ‘carrying’ a broken heart, and ‘returning’ love.”

The cast includes Ray Antolik, Xavier Arriaga, Jennifer Heinrich, Baxter Konstans, Mallory Leininger, Jaela Ludwick, Graciela Perez, Zllica Price Wellington, Kris Sulser, Lillian Weston, Faith Worthington, Joseph Worthington, Grace Yates, and Ariel Zuercher.

The Story as described from Dramatists Play Service:  “Welcome to Almost, Maine, a place that’s so far north, it’s almost not in the United States. It’s almost in Canada. And it’s not quite a town, because its residents never got around to getting organized; so it almost doesn’t exist. One cold, clear, winter night, as the northern lights hover in the star-filled sky above, the residents of Almost, Maine, find themselves falling in and out of love in unexpected and hilarious ways. Knees are bruised. Hearts are broken. But the bruises heal, and the hearts mend—almost—in this delightful midwinter night’s dream.”

Crueziger explained how this particular play was chosen as well as the possible of any surprises in store for the audience.

“I am always looking for challenging plays that I believe our students can produce successfully. It is the goal of RTHS Theater to inspire and enrich the lives of both the student artist and the audience through quality theatrical productions. This begins with a good script. ‘Almost, Maine’ has been the most popular play to be performed at high schools for the past several years and I though it is a quality script that our students should know,” she said. “The simple and creative technical elements in ‘Almost, Maine’ are actually quite lovely to see and hear. Our student production crew is quite dedicated and talented.”

Stage managers and crew include Naomy Ortiz, Lauren Ponto, Jacob Childers, Ava Coglianese, Jenavieve Hall, Lillian Robertson, Vanessa Avolio, Jonathon Bryant, Judy Fulgencio, Annastasia Hall, Matilyn Hart, Anayancy Lara, Logan Lidren, Braeden Peska, Sierra Ramos, Lila Roush, Daneil Senne, Carly Summers, Mirella Vazquez, Marcoantonio Zepeda, Anna Roush and Victor Tenorio.

“We have a top-notch crew and we also have dedicated actors who have gained much experience on the RTHS stage over the past few years,” Crueziger added. “It is a joy to work with them, and a joy to share their talents with you.”