The U of M theatre program’s latest student-led production is The Magic Castle Still Stands, a coming-of-age play by Vanessa Frances.

The play follows a young woman named Harvey, who embarks on a train journey. Along the way, she is joined by other passengers and surrounded by reminders of her past. The story follows her coming-of-age experience during this trip.

 “This play is about bringing out that childhood part of yourself when you are an adult and seeing how you can use that as an adult to help the world around you,” said Isaac Turon, the director.

Turon expressed a personal connection to the play’s story and themes.

“For me, when I grew up, there was a while where I felt like ‘oh you know, I’ve got to be a man,’ and get going in my life, and think about work,” he reflected. “And then theatre brought me back to this creative side, and I loved it so much that that’s where I feel like I found who I was.”

Danica Lindsay, who plays Harvey, described her character as a “free thinker” and a “very creative” person who always has a lot on her mind.

“She is a very emotional person,” Lindsay added, “she deals with a lot of grief throughout this play [and]  she’s not very good at dealing with these emotions either.”

Destiny Klassen plays Iris, Harvey’s imaginary childhood friend. Klassen described Iris as Harvey’s more fun and uplifting side — one she preserved from her youth.

“Iris is a little more upbeat, thinks everything is kind of just a game and she’s just kind of living in her own world,” Klassen said. “At the same time, she’s childish, but also wise beyond her years. She can give Harvey the advice she needs, when she needs it.”

As the cast and crew prepare for the show, they expressed excitement about the production process.

“I’ve always been a very hands-on person, I love getting up and doing things,” said Lindsay. “So, when we immediately started the blocking, I just always had a lot of fun, and being able to work with my fellow actors, everyone is so amazing, so kind and so much fun to work with.”

Klassen agreed, saying, “I like […] the ups and the downs of the whole process. I love getting to explore the character, creating chemistry with castmates and crew. I just really enjoy taking it all in.”

Josie Long, the set designer, also praised the collaborative aspect of theatre. She said conversations with Turon and other team members helped her develop the set design.

“Isaac had a very clear vision, which was great, but he did also give me a lot of creative freedom to design what exactly it would look like,” she said.

Long added that she is excited to see the vision come alive with the set.

“It’s really enjoyable, for this whole vision that we’ve been talking about for months, it’s finally accumulating into something material,” she said.

Ultimately, the cast and crew hope audiences will be moved by their production.

“[The actors] are performing at a university, and this is that huge transitionary step where you’re going from a teenager to an adult,” said Long. “There’s so much pressure on young adults, especially in the world today, that hopefully they do leave with that feeling that’s like, ‘you know what, everything will be okay,’ and you don’t have to have so much pressure to be an adult. It’s a different process for everybody.”

Turon agreed, expressing a hope that people would be inspired not to limit their dreams for the world.

“Even if the world around them doesn’t look like what they hoped it to be, that they could be the ones to act and make it look that way,” he said.

The Magic Castle Still Stands runs Feb. 25 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at the John J. Conklin Theatre in Taché Hall. Admission is free.