The Riverland Community College Theatre Department’s work ethic reflects that of its next play: “Be Aggressive.”

Since its last production a month ago, “The Fantasticks,” students and theater instructor Lindsey Duoos Williams have been working tirelessly on their upcoming performance, which will open 7:30 p.m. at Riverland’s Frank W. Bridges Theatre.

“There was no break,” Duoos Williams said. “A lot of them jumped right from ‘The Fantasticks’ and into this one.”

The Annie Weisman production of a 17-year-old whose mother dies in a car crash isn’t all tears, however.

“There are some very, very funny scenes in it,” she said.

Duoos Williams said it’s something which anybody who’s ever gone through high school or college can relate to and is appropriate for teenagers and older, as there is some strong language. She added that one scene will have people welling up while the next will have them laughing — a “dramedy,” as she calls it.

“They’re people that you can connect with,” Duoos Williams said about the characters.

The production is Duoos Williams’ second as the new theater instructor at Riverland, and she said things are running more smoothly with a little more experience invested. She’s also excited that along with $12 tickets for general admission, students get in for free for two showings. And according to Duoos Williams, the younger population will certainly be pleased with what they see.

“Be Aggressive” runs five times, as well, including 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.