This is the seventh in a series of articles examining the challenges life at the University of Wisconsin brings to many students.

Cue curtain. Cue lights. Cue actors. Theater proves to be alive and kicking on the University of Wisconsin campus.

Whether it’s a production for 50 of the cast and crew members’ closest friends or an elaborate performance at the Mitchell Theater, UW-Madison students actively partake in this art form.

Tonight the Chadbourne Theatrical Company is showing its final performance of the play “Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet),” written by Ann-Marie MacDonald. The small theater company of Chadbourne residents performs two plays a year, one in the fall and one in the spring. The company has been working on this production for seven weeks.

Director Abigail Testa detailed the stress that goes along with being in student-theater.

“So, basically it’s chaos,” Testa said at a recent dress rehearsal. “It’s chaos until the curtains open.”

Directors, like Testa, are given the opportunity to be in charge of a production but must sacrifice free time.

“Some people may not fully understand the amount of support and time it takes for a successful play to happen,” Testa said.

Not only is the company members’ time cut short, but so is their budget. Testa received $1700 to put on this play, and $700 alone went to royalties. As for students getting involved in UW theater, “it’s easier than people think, but you have to accept that some plays are not elaborate [due to lack of funding,]” said Testa.

The company acknowledged the student body’s support of theater.

“There is a strong presence of theater on this campus,” said actor James Miller.

Unfortunately, this means more competition for those trying to act, the company agreed.

The Chadbourne Theater Company acts as an alternative to many theaters by giving the actors a better opportunity to experiment with plays and by not requiring any experience.

Testa’s play is a new-age Shakespearean comedy about a teacher’s assistant studying “Othello” and “Romeo and Juliet” for her thesis.

For Testa, the most important thing is that people know how hard the cast and crew have voluntarily worked.

Is the experience rewarding enough for the actors to perform in the future?

“Only after three months of sleep,” said cast member Justin Dewees.

The play is showing at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Frederic March Play Circle in the Memorial Union. Admission is free.