Students in Newtown High School’s fall drama have their wands at the ready as they prepare to stage Puffs, Or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years At A Certain School Of Magic And Magic.

A description for the play reads, “For seven years a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs... who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world.”

As students rehearsed after school recently, there were many laughs at the play’s lines and jokes.

Students were assembled around Director Janice Gabriel on stage on October 20, waiting to learn about how a battle scene would be staged. First, the students learned how to “sit-fall.” Gabriel demonstrated how to carefully and safely appear to fall on stage, before students attempted the feat too.

Later, while students rehearsed lines and staging, Gabriel emphasized that she wants students to find their own way of using their wands, which are featured stage props in the play. From overhead flourishes to underarmed flicks of the wrists, students began finding their favored wand motions.

The play will be staged at Newtown High School, 12 Berkshire Road, November 18 to 21. The curtain will rise at 7 pm Thursday through Saturday, November 18, 19, and 20; and at 2 pm Sunday, November 21.

Tickets will be sold at the door for $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, and $7 for students.

Everyone in attendance will be asked to wear a mask, and seating will be by general admission with spacing for COVID-19 mitigation.

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Education Reporter Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.