If the semester is stressing you out and you need a laugh, come see “The Servant of Two Masters,” performed by students in NIU’s school of Theatre and Dance.

The show was first produced this summer and directed by Roger Smart during NIU’s award-winning professional theater company SummerNITE.

“It was produced with a combination of professional actors and student actors to give them a chance to work in a professional venue,” said David Booth, marketing director for the school of Theatre and Dance.

Roger Smart is returning to direct this rendition of “The Servant of Two Masters.” He has produced many different plays including “A Raisin in the Sun” and “A Streetcar Named Desir-e.” “The director is allowing us to experiment and bring our own creativity to the rehearsals,” said Alex Gun (Florindo), a second-year master of fine arts student. “He takes our ideas and molds it to his concept of the show. By doing this, it makes it a more creative process. It’s more a group effort.”

The actors are excited to do this production.

“I like the character Brighella. He’s a guy who’s so different from who I am,” said Chris Hibbard (Brighella), also a second-year M.F.A student. “I like doing that every once in a while. It’s fun to play someone who’s so different from who you are.”

The actors are working well together in spite of the time restraints placed on them.

“This has been a really fun role,” Gunn said. “Usually you get a month to six weeks to put together a production and we’re putting it up in three weeks.”

Hibbard agreed that the actors are enjoying the freedom given to them in regard to their roles.

“The actors are all incredibly talented,” Hibbard said. “It’s fun to see what they come in with every night.”

Each actor is trying to bring something new to the production to keep the interest of the audience.

“I played this role in the summer production in Chicago,” said Joe Minoso (Truffaldino), a second-year M.F.A. student. “I want to keep the character fresh and not over-rehearsed. I want to bring the newness to the part every time we do the show.”

“The Servant of Two Masters” is a commedia dell’arte piece written by the Renaissance Italian playwright Carlo Goldoni in 1745. During this time period, it was typical of plays to make a satire of the culture.

“In the spirit of commedia dell’arte,” Minoso said, “we poke fun at modern pop culture.”

Performances run Sept. 19 -22 and 25-29 at Players Theatre in the Stevens Building. Tickets are $7 for students, $8 for seniors and $14 for the general public.

For tickets and information, call the Stevens Building Box Office at 753-1600.