SPRINGFIELD – “Just in general, everybody’s volume needs to go up,” said Pope Francis Players Director John Anziano as the students finished rehearsing a scene from their upcoming production of the ensemble comedy, “The Nit Wits.”

It was a week from dress rehearsal, and Anziano’s years of working with student actors was evident as he patiently explained to the troupe that he wasn’t “asking them to rush, but I need you to pick up your cues.”

“The Nit Wits” – which premieres Dec. 13 at 7 p.m., at Pope Francis Preparatory School, 99 Wendover Road with repeat performances on Dec. 14 and 15, also at 7 p.m., is the inaugural production for the regional Catholic high school’s state-of-the art theater. Tickets are $10 general admission, $5 for senior citizens and students for all performances.

Anziano, who begins his 40th year teaching Fine Arts and Religious Studies and directing student productions with this play – first at Cathedral and now at Pope Francis – was instrumental in designing the performance space his students now have at their disposal. Those Pope Francis Players who have been with Anziano for several years, like Senior Brad Zweir, are very excited to be bringing this first production to life in their new school.

“It’s really awesome,” Zweir told Reminder Publishing. “In all the theater productions I’ve been in [so far] we didn’t have access to the lights, stage and sound [until dress rehearsal].

“With the new stage, everything is right here [and] we have a shop room where we can make our own sets,” he added.

Zweir said he was also “pretty excited” to be cast as the lead in this first production in the new theater, especially because this is his senior year.

“It’s pretty exciting to spend all my time on stage [in this play],” he said. “This is my favorite program [at school] It’s really special to be here.”

Ben Henley, another Pope Francis Senior who has a role in “The Nit Wits,” is also very excited by the chance to mount a production in the school’s new theater. Another long-time Pope Francis Player, he said the facility offers so much more for the cast and crew than the facilities they borrowed in the past.

“We used to have just two set lights and a spotlight [at the other stage], now we have a full catwalk and lighting,” Henley said. “Also, last year we had some issues with sound cutting out, now with the new sound booth, we can still know when the cues are, even if there’s a problem.”

Both young men also had high praise for Anziano and the theater program he oversees at Pope Francis.

“I think it’s really great that when [Mr. Anziano] is casting a show he takes into account our commitments,” Zweir said. “He thinks it’s important that we try things and get all the experiences we want in high school. He works around our schedules and makes exceptions so everyone can be in a play.”

Henley said taking part in the theater program offers students an experience they may not get in other extracurricular activities.

“The people in the theater [program] are very open about who they are. In other parts of school people have niches, but in theater everyone accepts people for who they are.”

Henley was also appreciative that Anziano chose such an inclusive production for the Players first show in the new theater.

"I’m really looking forward to opening night [for “The Nit Wits”], Henley said. “Almost every role has a good amount of scenes; last year we had a lot of [non-speaking] extras to fill scenes, this year we have only one non-speaking part.”