This fall, the Pinewood Performing Arts (PPA) department is putting on a production of Mark Haddon’s acclaimed novel, “The Curious Incident of a Dog in the Nighttime.” The show follows the journey of Christopher Boone, a neurodivergent 15-year-old boy. When his neighbor’s dog is found murdered, Christopher becomes determined to solve the mystery. As he navigates the investigation, it leads him on a journey of self-discovery, challenging his understanding of the world around him.

   Director Doug Eivers chose this story because he wanted to go in the opposite direction of the last play he directed, “The Play That Goes Wrong.”

   “[I wanted] something on the realistic side, but also not super realistic,” Eivers said. “[It contains a] good blend of acting and technology, so it gives us a chance to do some things with projections and stuff that we want to try and do.”

   Eivers shared how he hopes the play will have an impact on the Pinewood community.

   “Hopefully this will touch certain people in certain areas, [and] make others open their eyes a little bit,” Eivers said. “[It shows] us that we don’t all think the same. We don’t all approach things the same way.”

   Sophomore Zachary Gill will play Christopher, preparing to play this complex character by conducting research, asking for insights from friends with similar experiences, and implementing feedback from Eivers.

   “The play’s main strength is its uniqueness and individuality,” Gill said. “You will come out mystified. It’s a sad story of a kid running away from home, [but] it’s a mystery … a story about learning and growing.”

   Senior Mia Gustavson, a member of the ensemble, said she is excited for the production.

   “[The show is] really about the complexity of being human and how you can be good and bad in different ways all at once,” Gustavson said.

   Gustavson enjoys playing a different role from her previous roles in the PPA.

   “[It’s] really fun to play a character that I wouldn’t usually get to play,” Gustavon said. “[It’s] really fun to be part of the ensemble and experiment with different roles.”

   “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime” will run from Oct. 24-26.   Tickets can be purchased at https://cur8.com/24601/project/126164.