Few people know how difficult it is to put on a school production. From the actors memorizing their lines to the building of sets and selection of costumes, there are dozens of vital steps involved to create a smoothly running show.

It’s almost time for StageKraft’s fall play, “Almost, Maine,” which is based in a town you won’t find on just any old map. “Almost, Maine” weaves together nine different stories of comedy, romance and tragedy to portray the theme that love is different and similar all at the same time.

The school production takes place Nov. 12-14 at First Flight High School under the direction of theater teacher Monica Penn and English teacher Lauren Deal. They also have help from senior Kelly Weisbecker, who is the stage manager of the show, and the small but dedicated cast of 25 students.

“I love getting to see the scenes and the actors grow and evolve,” Weisbecker said. “With the amount of time we all spend together they sort of become a family. The sense of community is astounding.”

Because the fall play usually does not draw in as many students as the spring musical, “We knew there was going to be a small cast,” Deal said of choosing this popular story. “Mrs. Penn and I read through the play and loved it.”

The actors have been working their way through the script since September. Acting the part of a couple will come easy for juniors Katy Spore and Christian Eberhard. The real-life couple will be playing a pair that has been together for 11 years.

“I’m comfortable with him already and the characters need really strong chemistry,” Spore said. “Christian and I already have that and it will be easier to yell at him.”

Junior Nicole Castano has been doing shows since her freshman year, and this is her first major role. With only 25 people in the show, a lead role was not hard to come by for the experienced upperclassmen.

“I didn’t have a major role (in past productions). I was in a few of the scenes, but I only had a few lines,” Castano said. “So now doing ‘Almost, Maine,’ which is a show I didn’t even hear about before we did this, and getting a pretty good lead is really different for me.”

This show does bring some controversy with it. Last year, Maiden High School in Catawba County (between Charlotte and Hickory) canceled the show mid-rehearsal due to what that principal called “sexually explicit overtones and multiple sexual innuendos,” according to an article published in The Charlotte Observer. Students later banded together with the help of their former drama teacher to put on the show off campus, and playwright John Cariani announced plans to attend one of the shows in support of their work.

In the Observer story, Cariani said he “didn’t think about it being a play about sex at all. I wrote it to be as gentle as possible.”

In the original production of the play, there is a gay male couple. Due to the low number of men who tried out for the play here, the couple was changed to two women.

“I think everyone down here is very accepting of people’s sexuality,” said sophomore Kiersten Lewis, who plays Cass, a girl who realizes she may be in love with her best friend. Lewis believes that the community will find the show refreshing.

“I don’t think people will think it’s a big deal and will find it more comedic than offensive,” Lewis said.

Senior Chloe Williams, however, believes that some members of the community might find it offensive.

“I think it will probably – definitely – affect the attendance because a lot of people I know won’t want to bring their really, really little kids,” Williams said. “I think that in general they will come to support us, but probably won’t be as happy as if there wasn’t a gay couple. But that’s only because that’s what we believe, not like a ‘We don’t like you because you’re gay’ thing.”

The directors and actors and tech theater crew members are eager to take the stage for this small, challenging and critically acclaimed play. Tickets can be purchased at the box office before the show and cost $6 for students, seniors and children and $8 for adults. The show is at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 2 p.m. Saturday.

“We’ve had really large, strong senior classes the past two years, so this year’s upperclassmen have spent a long time in their shadow,” Deal said. “It’s extremely exciting to see how this year’s seniors have stepped up and taken on leadership roles. This is the first romantic comedy we’ve done since I came to First Flight, and I think the kids are going to make it into an outstanding show!”

Sophomores Suzanne Harrison and Beverly Murry can be reached at harrisonsu0716@daretolearn.org and murrybe0316@daretolearn.org.