For the past few months, dedicated students have been perfecting songs, learning dances, and memorizing lines. Others been focusing on technological work, costuming, and props. Regardless of their specific jobs, Palatine cast and crew members have been working hard to prepare for the upcoming school musical, “The Secret Garden”.

A beautiful balance of haunting ghost stories and the love of a family, “The Secret Garden” is the story of Mary, a spoiled, recently-orphaned young girl. After her parents’ untimely death, she moves to England to live with her uncle and soon realizes that she’s not alone in the strange new land. Through a series of discoveries regarding spirits and new friends, Mary begins to develop a new appreciation for the world around her.

“The Secret Garden” will premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 3 and run through Sunday, Feb. 6 with a 7 p.m. show every day. Tickets will be $7 for students, $10 for adults, and will go on sale on Thursday, Jan. 28, the day of the school showcases.

“People should come see the show because it’s a childhood classic with a fun and interesting twist,” cast member Julia Clarke said. “The music is beautiful and we’ve been working really hard on it.”

Working hard can be considered an understatement for the cast, who started rehearsals in November. To successfully accomplish such a renowned show, the cast has fully applied themselves to the task. They commit on a daily basis, including Saturdays and any special school holidays to prepare for the show.

Rehearsals run, on average, for about three hours. Earlier ones focused on specific tasks, such as learning songs and mastering their characters, but as of right now the rehearsals center around the actual show and stage preparation.

“[At rehearsals] we’ve been running through the scenes, making sure we have the blocking right and the vocals all put together,” freshman Shruti Satish, who is playing Mary, said. “Hopefully when they add in our lights, sound, and props, it will get smoother and smoother as time goes on,” Clarke added.

The most heartwarming part of the show, apart from the touching storyline, is the cast and crew’s dynamic. Palatine’s theater program gets along famously, and that is a big factor of their success.

“This is just such a fun group to work with, so I’ve had a blast,” Danny Hollander, the actor who plays Mary’s uncle, said. “It’s something you can’t get anywhere else.”