It is another year of firsts and lasts among members of Manhattan High’s musical department. This year’s cast is just as diverse as previous years, with students from every grade ready to perform and give their all in their rendition of “Guys and Dolls.” For some, this will be the first musical production they are in, and for others this will be the last time they will grace the stage in Rezac Auditorium in a fall musical. Still, even with the diverse levels of experience, the cast all shares the same positive outlook for the show.

“I think everyone knows what they’re doing and when to do what they need to. I think that things are running as smoothly as they could be,” freshman Jacob Wineland said. This is Wineland’s first performance at MHS, but not his first time as an actor.

“I was in a play in eighth grade. It was a small production, with it only being a middle school one, but it gave me a small amount of experience,” Wineland said.

On the flip side, the seniors of this year’s cast are just as optimistic about this year’s production, and are looking to redeem last years hiccups.

“It’s going to be really good. There were a couple of kinks in the musical last year. We weren’t really ready with the choreography and things like that,” senior August Balman said. “I think it has all come together really well this year.”

Balman has been a constant member of MHS’s theater department, grabbing roles in every fall production since his freshman year. While members of the cast are all members of one cohesive group, there are different roles that each member must carry out, both onstage and off.

“[As a senior] there is a lot of example to set for the new freshman and how things should be going and how to act and stuff like that,” Balman said. “Still, some of the freshman are going to be really good, lots of the sophomores are going to be amazing, they will do really well in the next couple of years.”