With the premiere inching ever closer, work on the upcoming original play, “Founding,” has been ramping up.

“Founding,” a collaborative project between the Advanced Playwriting class and the Theater Program, follows a group of students writing a play about the school’s origin, which ironically enough parallels the true reality of the piece.

Set to have curtains rise for the first time on Nov. 12, production has shifted from focusing on writing the film to putting the final touches on the performance of the screenplay.

“We are currently working on rehearsing the play, which itself is quite an experience,” said Karen Libman, faculty advisor to the students working on the play. “The aspect of the writing portion of this experience that was so great, the collaboration not only between students themselves but students and teachers as well, has shifted over to the rehearsal stage as well. It’s been a blast to watch students grow and work with each other, as well as the faculty that teaches them as well.”

With days falling off the calendar leading to the premiere, the group of students, along with a group of faculty advisors, are now tasked with polishing up the piece.

“I’m really proud of where the show is at the moment,” said Sean Francis, one of four student co-directors of the play. “Actors are pretty much memorized and scenes are blocked. Now we’re just making things cleaner, delving more into characterization and getting more comfortable with the text in general. We want to keep trying new things to keep it fresh and interesting when we get it onto the actual set.”

Joining Francis as co-directors on the play are Miriam Wisnewski, Jessica Alverson and Arielle Leverett.

“This experience has immensely rewarding, but very difficult,” Alverson said. “I have directed other productions outside of Grand Valley, and this one is by far the most interesting project I’ve been able to work on. It’s great working with the playwrights and knowing that they are as committed to making this show fantastic as the directors are, even though the writers are still working on finalizing the screenplay.”

However, working alongside teachers that they have been students of may breed a completely different sense of intimidation.

“Any student would tell you that it is intimidating to work alongside professors,” Alverson said. “Also, we have three professors cast in the show, and that’s scary as well. It’s hard to remember that you are the director and have to give the professors acting in the show direction, but all of the professors have been wonderful to work with. They are all committed to making sure that this production is the best that it can be.”

Almost set to see its first performance, those involved hope the idea of a play doesn’t turn some away from buying a ticket to watch.

“I am very excited about this project and I want others to get excited about it, too,” Wisnewski said. “It’s a play about discovering history. It’s a play about how the past and present interact. It’s a play about real people and their journeys through life. Every audience member will be able to relate to someone in the story. Whether it’s the jock, the smart kid, the geek, the passionate one, the ladies’ man or the strong one, there is a character for everyone.”

“Founding” will premiere on Nov. 12 with performances following on Nov. 13 and 14, as well as Nov. 19 and 20. Tickets are currently available for $6 to $12 at Louis Armstrong Theatre box office.

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