The meaning behind Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town” is not lost on students involved in the Steamboat Springs High School’s production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play.  

“One of the main reasons we chose this play was because of how much it applies to Steamboat Springs,” said student director Quinn Skinner, a senior who is enthusiastically looking forward to the production’s opening at 6 p.m. Thursday at Steamboat Springs High School, 45 Maple St.

“I know that a lot of teens around here can imagine Grover’s Corners where this play is set — it’s a lot like Steamboat,” Skinner said. “They feel like nothing happens; you grow up, go to college and come back to live here for 40 years … I think this play speaks to a lot of the population of Steamboat Springs and we can really take a lesson from that.”

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The classic American play will also be performed at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday — with a noon matinee also slated for Saturday. Doors open 30 minutes prior to each performance with tickets ranging in price from $5-$15 at SteamboatSchools.net/about-us/box-office. 

Theater has been a huge part of Skinner’s high school experience. Skinner was stage manager for “The Phantom Tollbooth,” assistant stage manager for “Shrek the Musical” and worked backstage on “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Spamalot.”

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“It’s my first time directing. I think as far as I know, I’m one of the few student directors that the high school has ever seen, and because of that it’s very new to everybody — it’s new to me,” Skinner said. “It’s new to all the actors, it’s new to the staff and faculty at the high school, and because of that it has been a very steep learning curve. It’s also very rewarding getting to work with all these different people and see them grow as people and as actors over the course of these past three months working together.”

The play is centered around life in the small, fictional community of Grover’s Corners and follows the lives of George Gibbs and Emily Webb as they interact with the other town characters as they grow up, get married and carry on the traditions of life in a small New Hampshire town. The Steamboat Springs High School production includes 45 students working under the lights as actors and backstage with the production.

“This is a lead role, and I’m really happy about it,” said Alley Kvols, a senior who will be play the part of milkman Howie Newsome in her eighth high school production. “It’s been great getting to know everybody, and this group is really more like family — I think that feeling of family (is what I enjoy about theater), and knowing that if something happens, they will be there for you.”

During a break between run-throughs on Tuesday night, several cast members took advantage of the opportunity to grab a bite to eat and gather as they talked about why they are excited to be part of this theatrical production.

Like Skinner, the cast of this year’s production was also excited about the chance to bring “Our Town” to life on the stage at Steamboat Springs High School — and realized the meaning of the story that was unfolding on the stage.

“The connections with human nature and what this world is about. I guess that’s why I like the third act, because it’s all about life, even though we showcase death in this act, it’s really about life,” said junior Rachel Sloan, who is playing the part of Constable Bill Warren. “I love that.”