This year’s fall play, The Laramie Project, premieres in the Blackford cafetorium at 7 p.m. this evening.

Jeffrey Draper previously directed The Laramie Project, a dramatic play set in the late ’90s in Laramie, Wyoming, at the Upper School. He chose to direct this play again to introduce students to a more dramatic acting style.

“I’m really happy with not only [the actors’] performances, but also their growth.” Draper said. “They’ve worked very hard and I’m seeing some really new and exciting acting out of them.”

The actors have been rehearsing since mid-September, and recently began dress rehearsals on the Blackford campus in preparation for tonight, tomorrow and Saturday’s shows. The fall play’s swing cast, a cast of understudy performers, will perform the show on Halloween day at 2 p.m. at Blackford.

Emmy Huchley (9) is a member of the swing cast for Saturday’s performance of The Laramie Project.

“Everybody is understudying somebody” she said. “There’s a lot of interpretation you can take with [the play] so it’s really helpful to have that other person that’s also working on [the same role].”

Tickets have been on sale during both lunches in Manzanita Hall last week and are still available to purchase through The Laramie Project’s Facebook page. Performances will begin at 7 p.m. tonight, tomorrow evening and Saturday evening.