Monday night found the cast of "On the Run" on their toes as actors rehearsed the full show - in costumes, with sets and no scripts - for the first time. They were only four days away from opening night.

Before rehearsal started, actors sat around the dimly lit Arena Theatre. Some were laughing and hanging out, while others were nervously mumbling lines to themselves or moving through blocking onstage.

"On the Run" is a student production - one of the nine permitted this semester by the MSU Department of Theatre. Each student show is directed and performed entirely by students. This year, the department is supporting the largest number of student productions in the program's history.

Advice is available from faculty members acting as advisers, but decisions regarding casting, costuming, set design and advertising are left up to the directors. The Department of Theatre provides each production with a budget of up to $500, and directors can be reimbursed for expenditures related to costumes or other necessities.

"On the Run" is different from other student productions because it was written by Onkar Singh, an interdisciplinary studies in social science and theater junior.

Singh said he realized moving his play from page to stage would be challenging, but he has persevered.

"When I wrote this stuff, I wasn't sure if we could pull off half the things, but we've done it all," he said. "A few adjustments had to be made, but that sort of thing is a given."

Rehearsals for "On the Run" began in January and the show has progressed since the first dry run throughs. Although Monday night's rehearsal still showed room for improvement, flaws are expected during the week before opening night, said director Joshua Amrhein, a telecommunication, information studies and media senior.

"We will be ready," he said. "Are we ready now? No. But no show ever is at this point in the process; it's just a matter of sorting the little kinks out now."

Bridget Martin, a theater sophomore who plays Evelyn Hall, said the cast has overcome many obstacles in the past few months, such as mastering British accents and understanding the time period.

"On the Run" is set in 19th-century America when England's influence was still greatly felt in the newly independent country. It revolves around the households of Sir Richard Archard and Sir Malcolm Hall, who are busy matching their children, Reginald Archard and Evelyn Hall, for marriage.

Plans go awry when Evelyn falls in love with the dashing Jack- a young thief who poses as royalty and teaches her about life and love.

Martin said realizing how her character would have reacted as a result of societal pressures during the 1800s was a challenge.

"It was a lot of work in and out of rehearsals to adjust to the time period," Martin said. "Josh gave me insights to how the time period affected my character's actions and thoughts in regards to an arranged marriage and such."

One of the biggest problems facing student productions, offstage, is publicity and packing in the audience.

Singh said he realized this almost immediately and has acted accordingly. One of the projects he undertook to grab students' attention was to create interesting posters to advertise the show.

Lianna Lilley, a second-year sequential art student at Lansing Community College, was hired to draw posters and has taken a creative turn.

Lilley said she gained inspiration from Victorian playbills and picked up the art style used in the era. She sat in on rehearsals and drew the actors as they performed - these are the images that will be used to advertise "On the Run."

Singh said he hopes the creative angle used for advertising will "pack the Arena to the gills."

Even if the posters do not work to bring people into the performances, Lilley said she is confident the ones posted in the Auditorium will help set the mood.

"There are a lot of visual cues people pick up on, whether they realize it or not," she said. "While people may not notice the posters while they're up, it does add a bit more authenticity and helps to draw people into what's going on."

Lamont Clegg, theater professor and adviser to "On the Run," said the Department of Theatre provides students with opportunities to direct and act in their own productions because they deserve creative outlets.

Brian Carlin, an interdisciplinary humanities junior who plays Constable Stewart, said student productions also provide actors with more chances to hone their craft.

The main stage shows do not provide as many opportunities for students to act, Carlin said, and he finds more roles available in the smaller plays.

Clegg said he tried to keep a small profile in the overall direction of the show because it is a chance for students to learn from their mistakes. The result, he said, is that "On the Run," has turned out wonderfully.

"They seem to have developed a nice esprit de corps (group spirit)," he said. "The company seems very talented and committed to the project, and that's encouraging."

Glitches did occur, as they do in every production, Singh said. Two actors dropped out during the rehearsal process.

But Singh said the actors were replaced. and the chemistry between actors was not harmed.

"I was able to find another actor quickly enough to not lose momentum," he said. "The transitions were smooth."

The unique aspect of "On the Run" - that it is a student-written play - has given both Amrhein and Singh a rare opportunity in theater, for the director and author to work together.

"Josh and I were in sync 95 percent of the time, and we reached proper solutions for the other 5 percent," Singh said.

Clegg said he thought Amrhein and Singh have learned from the experience, but Martin said at times having both an author and director overseeing them caused problems.

Having Singh so involved and always present at rehearsals - he also plays the character of Jack - meant the actors had input from two different sources. Martin also said the continual presence of Singh resulted in script changes throughout the past few months.

"In the future, if someone is going to write it and be in it, after the script is given approval there shouldn't be any more editing," she said. "It would have been nice if they finished editing it before because it's hard to still memorize lines, but the script has changed for the best."

Martin said other problems have resulted from students lacking respect for Amrhein's authority. Actors failed to attend rehearsals or showed up late, and Martin said it's because they don't think the director has the power of a faculty member.

But Carlin said he never thought disrespect was a problem.

"We all respect each other," he said. "They have different styles than a lot of the faculty members do, but every director does."

Whatever problems or challenges the actors and director faced during the past few months, Amrhein said the overall product has turned out well.

Costumes have been integrated slowly into the mix, and they enhance the atmosphere of the show, he said. Having the set now onstage has helped both the actors understand the boundaries of their world and has lent the play a sense of increased believability.

Singh said the budget and props the Department of Theatre provided were invaluable. His experience with "On the Run" has convinced him to continue his efforts in all aspects of theater, he said.

The overall experience has been a good one that more people should take advantage of, Martin said.

"I didn't even know we had this chance until I got involved in this," she said. "I was surprised we could write our own shows and produce them.

"It's amazing that students did all this, and I hope the audience is surprised that we put it together ourselves."