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The Augustana College Theatre Society's (ACTS) latest production, [title of show], is an out-of-the-box comedy about two men trying to write a play about two men trying to write a play about two men trying to write a play.

[title of show] is a one-act musical written by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell in 2004 that chronicles its own creation.

"On the surface it is about two guys writing a brand new musical," director Jake Miller said. "But below the surface, it's about two artists doing an incredibly brave thing and having a great time doing it."

The play stars junior Grant Hooyer and sophomore Bryan Okerlund as Bowen and Bell who are struck by the idea to write a musical to submit to the New York Musical Theatre Festival in only three weeks.

The only problem is, they have no idea where to start. All they know is that they want their play to "ask significant questions" and "get important points across."

Accompanying them on their whirlwind creative journey are actress friends Susan, played by sophomore Glynnis Kunkel, and Heidi, played by junior Kayla Straub.

[title of show] is the first musical to be produced by the student-run ACTS. ACTS was formed last year to present more opportunities for theater students, allowing them to perform in more intimate settings with smaller casts and sets than a regular main stage show.

"You have to be very comfortable with the audience right in your face," Kunkel said. "Which is great. You can play off of their energy more when you can see each individual face."

This intimacy creates the perfect setting for a show that famously features only four chairs and a piano.

"[title of show] is different from a normal musical because it has a smaller cast and an even smaller set," Okerlund said. "It doesn't rely on the flashy set and backup dancers, but focuses mainly on the four friends forming a friendship and trying to make their show work."

"It's a show that is so much about the theatre, and doing it in such an intimate space where you're really in touch with the elements of live theatre – curtains surrounding you, unhidden lights hanging above, a classic black box feel – seems very appropriate," Miller said.

Throughout the play, the characters also have to deal with the problems presented by live theatre. From dancing with the physical embodiment of blank paper to slaying the vampires of doubt, the characters must face up to their own insecurities before they can reach their dreams.

"It's a show about four friends trying to make their dreams come true together and how that dream tests their friendship along the way," Hooyer said.

Because this play is about the process of theatre itself, it hits close to home for the students involved.

"It is a play about us," Miller said. "Young people doing theatre all have big dreams and want to be able to test those uncharted waters and succeed in the incredibly small theatre world."