“Stage door,” a comedy full of ambitious – or even embittered actresses and skeptical stage directors, opens Oct. 21.

“All of the kids involved in the show are dedicated and working very hard toward the same goal: putting together a professional production,” director Dona Dye said.

The theater department hosted auditions the third week of school, and now rehearses every day after school.

“I’ve been in Drama Club since freshman year, and I’ve been in eight plays since,” senior Anthony Ortega said.

He said this production is more stressful because it opens a little earlier than previous fall plays.

The play will open in the new auditorium, which was just finished a last spring.

“This facility is incredible. It represents six years of hard work by many people who believe in producing the best fine arts instruction for our students. It is a magnificent performance space,” Dye said.

“Stage door,” showcases everything the heart desires: love, hope, luck – but also resentment and disasters.

“I like the time period and the message. It has lots of parts and tons of women,” Dye said.

The play is about Terry Randall, an ambitious, young actress who unfortunately never gets her big break – she just rushes from one audition to the other, hoping to find great success.

Terry lives in a house with several other women, whose characters are as different as their past. Keith Burgess, an attractive playwright played by senior Sam Garrott, becharms her and they fall in love.

“I love that he’s such a gentleman and how all the girls are in love with him. And that he gets the girl,” Ortega, who plays a movie-producer said.

While the story may be not new, all the struggles and happenings make it to something special – a performance students don’t want to miss.

Corrected 10-15-10