As students enter the Sullivan Performing Arts Center over the next couple weeks, they are guaranteed to be working extra hard. For their fall productions, Tiger Theatre Company is putting on not only one, but two shows: “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Our Town”.

An average fall season for the company consists of just one fall show. However, this year at auditions many students proved themselves worthy of a spot. Due to “Murder on the Orient Express” only requiring 12 acting roles, directors came to the decision to cast two full size productions.

“I was a little nervous when the directors announced that they were casting two shows, but everything worked out well,” junior Xavier Briggs said. “Both casts are showing lots of talent.”

Although both shows are similar in the sense that they are both full lengths, there are many differences between the two.

“Murder on the Orient Express” is a suspenseful, adventurous and fast paced show that captures the emotions of 12 characters as they watch fellow train passengers disappear. The set for this show is extravagant, and technical director Trent Hanna has made a set piece that resembles a real train and moves on stage.

“It’s been really fun seeing my fellow actors adapt to the fast paced aspect of the show,” senior Tyler Unger said. “I really like the moving train, and I think the visual is gonna be really cool for audiences to see.”

On the other hand, “Our Town”  is a classic, family oriented show that gives the audience a deep inside on what it’s like to live in the country. “Our Town” captures the difference in life and death, and has been a loved show through generations. The set for this production is very minimal, and actors use their pantomiming abilities to allow the audience to envision what they believe the town would look like.

“I’m the stage manager for ‘Our Town’,” freshman Sidney Karr said. “ I get to see the show from a different perspective than the actors, and everyone’s doing a great job at making the show their own.”

To balance out having two full size cast and crews, head director Brandon Shoemaker is directing “Murder on the Orient Express” while assistant director Mikenzie Blase is directing “Our Town”. Both directors spend every evening rehearsing with their casts and encouraging actors to reach their full potential.

Whether they are building the set or performing on it, everyone that participates in the production puts in their respective time to ensure that audience members leave the theater feeling proud of what they saw.

“ I’m really proud of how both casts have come together,” assistant director Mikenzie Blase said. “They have created something really beautiful in two different ways.”

Show dates for “Murder on the Orient Express” are Oct. 5-8 and “Our Town” is Oct. 11-15. Tickets can be purchased on the Tiger Theatre Company website, or by emailing director Brandon Shoemaker.

“I’m excited to see both shows,” Blase said. “For MOTOE, i’m excited for the moving train, and for Our Town I can’t wait to see [the actors] tell a story that’s timeless.”