Nearly 20 University students will take the stage for their first major performance this weekend, “The Great Nebula in Orion and Three Other Plays,” sponsored by the University’s Department of Theater and Film.

The performance will take place 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Wooster Center’s Elsewhere Theater and admission is free-firstcome, first-served.

“The goal of the show was to give some experience to people who were interested in acting or directing on campus but had never been involved in any main stage shows,” producer and graduate student Rob Connick said. “I’m very impressed with the amount of work that’s gone into all of them. All four shows differ from each other, but will appeal to everyone in some way.”

The “other plays” included in the performance are “Victory of Mrs. Dandywine’s Island,” “The Family Continues” and “Ikke, Ikke, Nye, Nye, Nye,” combining a slapstick comedy, a comedy of manners, a contemporary drama and an experimental piece into one collaborative performance.

The show will last approximately two hours and Connick emphasized that it is intended for mature audiences.

“I would say the biggest adjustment for the actors involved is the subject matter,” he said. “All of the shows deal with personal interaction and love and dealing with those feelings, and it’s definitely not like a performance done in high school.”

Connick said this can mean longer rehearsal times and unfamiliar situations, but he believes his performers have risen to the challenge.

“In the end, there are also positives, because it helps a person grow and examine who they are,” he said. “They can decide what makes them uncomfortable and what doesn’t and learn how to portray convincing life events on stage.”

One performer — junior Nicole Sickinger, a theater minor — said her experience acting in “The Family Continues” has been rewarding for such reasons.

“I’m playing two roles, and by the end of the show I have a sex scene, which is a little awkward, but definitely a fun and new experience,” she said. “You get to do things that you never would do before and be people you wouldn’t normally be, so it’s a really good time.”

Sickinger transferred from Kent State University this year and said she knew she wanted to be a part of the University’s strong theater program upon arriving.

“BG does a lot of really good things with their theater program and I’ve had a lot of instructors who are really encouraging,” she said. “Rob teaches my script analysis class and he was really great about letting me know about the Elsewhere Show, which has really helped me get my foot in the door.”

Senior Joshua Smith, a technical theater major, will be directing “Ikke, Ikke, Nye, Nye, Nye.” He said his experience directing has been as pleasing as his performers’ and “everyone is learning from each other along the way.”

“It’s been a great experience and I couldn’t be happier with my cast,” he said. “I’m always open to trying new things and I was glad to give it a shot. Now that the show is coming together, I’m really excited for the weekend.”

The low-tech Elsewhere Theater environment has been challenging, Smith said, but will foster a strong show rooted in participation and interaction between the actors, as well as the audience.

“When all is said and done, we hope we made a really good show, but also hope the actors have taken away something,” he said. “We want to make them better actors by giving them good experiences, so they will keep doing things like this in the future.”

Connick said he believes the students’ several weeks of successful practices will culminate into an entertaining show that may leave some people surprised.

“It’s a lot of fun and I enjoy watching the process happen,” he said. “Some of the actors are starting to come out of their shells a little bit and the confidence I’ve seen grow in them from auditions to now has been particularly rewarding.”

Lanford Wilson’s

“The Great Nebula in Orion & Three Other Plays”

WHERE: The Wooster Center’s Elsewhere Theater, 1124 E Wooster St.

WHO: Sponsored by the University’s Department of Theater and Film

WHEN: Oct. 22 and 23 at 8 p.m.

ADMISSION: Free