Mary Moody Northen Theatre launches a new play, “Peer Gynt,” on Feb. 11. The play was written by Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen and translated by Robert Bly.

The play details a man’s journey of self-discovery from youth to old age. It is one of the last major plays to be fully written in verse.

“‘Peer Gynt’ is sort of an epic play that chronicles the life of a man who lives his life by avoidance,” said junior Kel Sanders, a theater major featured in the production. “It incorporates a lot of Scandinavian mythology, like trolls.”

Sanders, who plays 10 roles in the production, said the audience should expect “a lot of spectacle in this show.”

“‘Peer Gynt’ requires a ridiculous amount of props and costumes,” he said. “In the final scene of the play, I’m going to be on stilts. There are masks, a giant puppet, trolls, sex-crazed satyr girls and an eight-foot tall devil. And six of us are going to be playing musical instruments at various times.”

Many students are anticipating the play’s premiere.

“I expect a lot, because Ev Lunning is directing the play,” said Lindsley Howard, a freshman theater major. “Ev used to be the artistic director of the theatre. He made Mary Moody Northen what it is today.”

Freshman Cameron Allen caught a sneak peak of the play and singled out the “phenomenal cast and style of storytelling.”

“There’s lots of singing and instruments,” Allen said. Music is a big deal in it, and the sets are fantastic.”

Despite the impressive technical aspects and fantastical elements, Sanders stressed the importance of the story and emotions expressed in the play.

“There are beautiful moments that show a real struggle,” he said. “Hopefully, the audience will walk away both thoroughly entertained and touched by the story.”

“Peer Gynt” runs from Feb. 11-21.