Audiences visiting the Dale A. Lyons Building theater this weekend will be sitting at the edges of their seats, as Southwestern Michigan College raise the curtain on its latest, suspense-laden drama, “Wait Until Dark.”

The student production debuts on Friday, with additional shows on Saturday and Sunday. Show times are 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.

The play, written by Frederick Knott, tells the story of Susy Hendrix, a housewife living in New York’s Greenwich Village who is struggling to adapt to life at home after being blinded in an automobile accident. After her husband unknowingly smuggles heroin into the country following a trip to Canada, three conmen attempt to retrieve the teddy bear the drugs were hidden inside from the couple’s apartment, trying to persuade Susy to help them find it — while she tries to outsmart the intruders.

Besides a plot filled with suspense and tension, the production frequently makes use of light and sound effects, said Director Paul Mow.

“It’s a pretty fitting play for Halloween,” Mow said. “It’s going to make people jump out of their seats.”

The five-person cast and other involved with the production have been working on bringing the show to the college stage since the beginning of the fall semester, Mow said.

While the production presented obvious technical challenges to stagehands, the set and costume design also required a lot of effort to put together, due to the fact the story is set during the 1960s. Thanks to some assistance from local theater groups, Mow was able to borrow some 60s-era appliances for use on stage, including a vintage refrigerator and washing machine.

“We’re trying to bring back the 60s, so you’ll see some ugly wallpapers and décor…we’re trying to make things as authentic looking as possible,” Mow said.

For lead actress Miranda Stepka, a sophomore at the college, portraying a blind character led to its own set of challenges, especially since she can’t make eye contact with the other actors on-stage, she said.

However, the role was especially meaningful for her, since her father, Darian, is legally blind himself, she said.

“It’s a really powerful experience for me, since putting myself in this role helps me understand more what my dad has to go through,” Stepka said.

The student actress was also drawn to the strength of her character, as despite Susy’s condition, she still finds the strength to try and escape her dire situation.

“I can’t imagine coming to this play and not taking something away from it,” she said.

Tickets for the show cost $7 for general admission, $5 for seniors, and free for children under 18-years-old and students with their ID. They can be purchased online at swmich.edu/boxoffice or at the box office the night of the show.