Freshman Tuyet Nguyen doesn’t have much experience in theater, but on May 17-19, she will be going behind the stage as she helps direct her first play, “My Brother’s Girlfriend,” which is written and produced by senior Omnia Shahid.

Nguyen, a double-major in strategic communication and international studies from Saigon, Vietnam, is both the stage manager and co-directer of the play, along with senior film major Chris Pacheco.

“As stage manager, I keep track of the cast, rehearsal, schedule, props, designs, contacts, budgets, changes to the script and additional stage directions. I have to be able to answer every question that the cast, designers and faculty have regarding the play,” said Nguyen.

This is Nguyen’s first time directing a play, and she has taken on many responsibilities to ensure the success of Shahid’s  senior capstone project, “My Brother’s Girlfriend.”

Nguyen first got involved after meeting Shahid in a class.

“I met Omnia in a theatre class and she just asked me to come with her to a meeting. From then on I became a part of the production,” said Nguyen.

Nguyen said she has little experience in theater, though she was offered the role of stage manager in high school, a position she turned down due to family issues.

“To be honest, I don’t really know why Omnia chose me. I’ve asked, and she only said that I’m perfect for the job,” said Nguyen.

Part of Nguyen’s job is organizing daily practices, which range from two to four hours long, and coordinating with the other cycles of senior capstones.

“My co-director has different preferences and different ideas about what the actors should do and it delays us now and then, but we try our best to cooperate with each other and listen to each other,” said Nguyen. “To co-direct the play as a first year and to be stage manager at the same time is sometimes overwhelming, but I’m learning a lot and I enjoy being around the people who are involved in this.”

Preparation for the production began last quarter. Shahid, the producer, actress and writer, worked closely with Nguyen, Pacheco and the designers to plan all of the details around a tight $500 budget.

“Actors come alive and there has to be a flow to the play. Different lines have different meanings, and my job as director is to give the lines the meaning intended,” said Nguyen.

“Next to Normal,” “Traces,” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” are plays that come alive for Nguyen.

“‘Next to Normal’ is a wonderful musical, and the story just clenches your heart,” said Nguyen.

Nguyen said she enjoys “Traces” because, while it has little dialogue, the story is told with acrobatics, music and dance. The beautiful colors and humor attract Nguyen to Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

The play is part of the Spring Festival of Senior Capstone Productions, a month-long event divided into three cycles. The festival presents theatrical productions brought to life by graduating theatre majors along with a team of student actors, designers and crew members.

“Since it is a senior’s capstone project, the seniors are really passionate about it because it’s a chance for a dream of theirs to come true,” said Nguyen. “Everyone puts their best effort into molding a dream into reality using their experiences and listening to each other’s advice.”

The play is about a boy named Hugo (played by Preston Evans), who is in love with the girlfriend of his brother Constantine. He is mentioned, but never seen. Lolita, Constantine’s girlfriend (played by Shahid), finds Constantine kissing another man at his graduation party.

The play follows Hugo’s daydreams of having a chance at love with her, blurring the line between dreams and reality. “My Brother’s Girlfriend” will be performed as part of the third senior capstone cycle on May 17, 18 and 19 along with “Sherlock Holmes” and “Frostbite” in the Byron Theatre in the Newman Center.

Other senior capstone performances “Magicka”  and “Lavender Girl” will be performed this week during the second cycle on May 3-5 in the Byron Theatre in the Newman Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets can be reserved online or at the Newman Center Box Office.