One overstuffed couch surrounded by garbage opposite an immaculately neat desk and the American flag. The audience continues to chatter as they file into their seats, lights dim and the crowd is silent with anticipation, a single spotlight lights up center stage, and the play begins.

On April 7 “Tigers Be Still” premiered at the Alan Harvey Theatre and was greeted by thunderous applause after months of preparation by the cast and crew.

“It was very collaborative because [Campbell] hasn’t directed that many things before so we were all working together,” sophomore and star of the show Ellie Coleman said.

“Tigers Be Still” follows Sherry Wickman, a formerly depressed and recently employed woman trying to readjust to the world after locking herself away from the world for months.  She works as an art teacher and a therapist while juggling her recently dumped sister, reclusive mother and a tiger escaped from the town zoo.

“I was looking for a piece that not only had a mixture of comedic aspects with deeper thematic elements, but also a story that would connect to many people,” Campbell said.

Coleman made her stage debut as the lead in the show, and was joined by seniors Eliza Lucas and Yuval Wolf and sophomore Jonathan Dinetz.

“It was overwhelming, intimidating and exciting to be cast as the lead as a sophomore,” Coleman said.

The play was well received by the public, resulting in an enthusiastic applause at the end of the performance.

“I really liked how the actors used the space and I thought it was funny,” freshman Gabrielle Garcia said.