The Peck School of the Arts Theatre Department presents Songs for a New World, a musical about life, love, and defining moments. What makes this production stand out is the team behind it: the show is largely designed and executed by students, who are leading work across set design, technical production, and stage management.
Directed by Steve Decker, the production offers students the opportunity to take on professional-level responsibilities and shape the show from the ground up.
“The best part of the show is that it’s completely designed by the students,” Decker said. “I can’t wait to see the show. I think what the students are doing is amazing.”
Beck Mesich, a senior in the Theatre Production program, serves as stage manager, coordinating communication between cast and crew to keep the production running smoothly.
“You’re there so the director doesn’t need to worry about missing any notes, so they can just focus on directing and what their vision is,” Mesich said. “I’m there to make sure that everyone communicates, so that vision [comes together].”
The experience has been both professional and personal. Managing the show, Mesich has watched “Songs for a New World” reach its full potential while building friendships and relationships along the way.
“It’s been really fun getting to collaborate with other students and not just my teachers,” Mesich said. “My peers have become my friends, so in the end, I’m designing the show with my friends.”
Franklin Wahlstrom, also a senior theatre production major, serves as technical director, translating design concepts into physical structures for the stage.
“I’m on the technical side of things, so my classmates and I create a model of what we want and figure out how we’re actually going to rig this,” Wahlstrom said. “It’s the designer’s job to come up with the idea, and it’s my job to figure out how to engineer it.”
Wahlstrom said the role has pushed him to think more broadly about the production process as he works with faculty mentor Christopher Guse.
“When I read the blueprints that came from Chris Guse, I really got a whole new outlook on this whole process,” Wahlstrom said. “Now I’m the one engineering the set pieces and making the big decisions. It feels great.”
“Songs for a New World” runs April 8–12 at Kenilworth Five-0-Eight. Tickets and more information are available on the PSOA Events calendar.
Story by Payton Murphy ’27 (BFA Film)