The fall play, “Our Town,” is set to impress Williston’s student body this October.

“Our Town,” by Thornton Wilder, is a well-regarded production revolving around the themes of human life and companionship. The play, starring Harrison Winrow ’18 as the Stage Manager, Caleb Stern ’19 as George Gibbs, and Maddie Elsea ’19 as Emily Webb, focuses on the everyday lives of citizens in Grover’s Corners, NH in 1901.

“Our Town” is one of Emily Ditovski’s favorite plays. Ms. Ditovski is the Theater teacher at Williston and has been working in the department for nine years. She has many reasons why she loves the theater program, but her favorite is “the welcoming atmosphere that our students create” and that they “help support each other through the whole rehearsal process.”

When choosing a play, Ms. Ditovski takes into regard how the student body will perceive it, as well as how much the underlying meaning of the play will resonate. “I’d rather not give anything away, but I think everyone will take something unique from it,” said Ms. Ditovski. “I will say that you may come out of the theatre with a new way of looking at the world and yourself in it.”

Ms. Ditovski chose “Our Town” based on student recommendations, the strongest coming from senior Elise Dunn.

Elise Dunn ’18 is extremely thrilled to be a part of the fall play. Elise has been in many plays and musicals at Williston and is playing Howie Newson, the milkman. She’s greatly excited about “Our Town,” due to the fact she is from the town the play is based on. “It’s written about my hometown,” said Elise, “I’m really excited to experience small-town life through my favorite characters.”

The rest of the actors are also extremely eager for the upcoming production, including senior Haley Beecher, who plays Mrs. Gibbs, the town doctor’s wife.

“I’m excited for the students to see how much hard work we put into ‘Our Town,'” Haley remarked.

Haley has been involved in four productions at Williston, so “Our Town” will be one more impressive show under her belt. She is “super excited but sad about performing in her last play; we’re all like a huge family,” she said.

The theater department has produced many impressive plays and musicals, the most recent being the spring play, “Peter and the Starcatcher.”

Marielle McHale, a senior at Williston, thought it was “really good because it was interesting to see Peter Pan’s backstory.” Marielle was also “extremely impressed by her friends’ abilities to perform.”

“Our Town” is October 19 and 21 at 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 20 at 8:00.