Greg Siuba

DRAMA QUEEN In the spotlight, freshman Owen Kirk exits the stage with pizzazz. The Munster Theatre Company prepares for the very first production that they will be hosting for the 2025-2026 school year. “The new and improved auditorium is really great and provides a new and improved working space for the performing arts at MHS,” Kirk said. “I’m excited for the amazing performances that will be held here.”

From Sept. 25-28, the Munster Theater Company is holding its fall production, “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon,” in the school’s newly refurbished auditorium. The play is a slapstick comedy that attempts to retell classic fairy tales in the way they were originally written. The show has been planned out since before the school year began; roles were cast in May and rehearsals were held over the summer in the professional development room.

“The big part where we work collaboratively outside of just being together on stage as actors is the tech element of building a set, getting things together and knowing what we need for the performance,” junior Elle Dahn said. “It’s a lot of cooperation between technicians, actors and everyone in general.”

Due to this co-efficient community space that theater provides, several lasting bonds are being established among the troupe both inside and outside of rehearsal hours.

“There’s been a really good cast dynamic  going on that I’m seeing take form. There are a lot of connections being built, and I’m seeing a lot of new friendships, especially with some of our new members,” senior Wesley Harle said.

Following the end of construction, the theater company migrated back to the remodeled auditorium to find a new atmosphere and abundant new materials: this has particularly affected students who specialize in technical theater due to the installation of new systems.

“Our sound system is getting revamped, the lighting is completely different and we have more options for everything,” Dahn said. “Things are just better.”

With the upcoming performance rapidly approaching, students in the troupe are taking their own creative directions, attempting to present an authentic and original adaptation of their source material. The collaborative efforts of actors, technical specialists and students in technical theater classes will collectively be displayed during the show.

“My favorite part is being able to sit back and watch everybody really just take ownership of the entire show,” theater director Raymond Palasz said. “I would say, 99% of the time, the show really soars as a result.”