The theater club thrilled Upper School students with a brief sneak peek of its fall production, Machinal, on Tuesday in the auditorium.

The full production of Machinal continues its run from Oct. 16 to Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.

Machinal, written by Sophie Treadwell in 1928, focuses on a young woman trapped in a controlling marriage in a strict society. At Tuesday’s preview, the club performed a scene in which a businesswoman feels conflicted over whether to marry her boss and keep her job or refuse and risk losing it.

The club’s dedication showed both onstage and behind the scenes, as members spent hours memorizing lines and rehearsing every small detail.

“We put a lot of hard work and love into this show, so showing up would be supporting our cast and crew,” senior Nicholas Wheatley said.

Audiences couldn’t help but laugh at the play’s humorous moments, with one actor’s repeated line becoming a running joke.

“Hot dog!” sophomore Arlo Stagman exclaimed, prompting the audience to burst out laughing every time.

For many cast members, performing at Gathering felt like the moment all their hard work paid off. Senior cast member Cherish Curtis said, “Gathering is the one time the house is packed, and getting that full audience is usually the first time the show actually comes together.