After a sold-out run of its first show in the season, “The Path Less Chosen,” Andy’s Summer Playhouse is opening the next original work in its 52nd season, “Giant Slalom.”

Have you ever wanted to see a show that challenges what it means to be a good person, and what means to an end are justified? Now you can at Andy’s Summer Playhouse in Wilton. “Giant Slalom” is a play about three teenage girls who are professional ski racers in Colorado. I play a character named Lauren (which was unintentional, but funny nonetheless) who is 16 and has the nickname of “new girl,” even though she hasn’t been “new” for 3 1/2 years.

The rehearsal process has been different from standard rehearsals because this play is part of The Greenhouse New Works Initiative. Every summer, Andy’s invites an artist to come to the playhouse to workshop a play they have been working on and bring it to life on the stage as a next step in the play development.

Our director, Jenna Place, and our playwright, Jess Honovich, both ski-raced when they were younger. They are both amazing artists and it’s such a privilege to work with them. Our multimedia designer, Sean Preston, studied projection design in graduate school and is doing all of our technical aspects: lighting, sound and projection.

There are only three actors in the cast, which allows us to work closely with Jenna, Jess and Sean to tell an authentic story, both about ski-racing and the female experience. The other cast members are Liliana Juarez, who plays Dagny, the 18-year-old MVP and child of two Olympic athletes, and Elsa Guerra, who plays Skylar, Dagny’s best friend and the 17-year-old who is second-best at everything but slalom. These three girls have to navigate the challenging world of professional sports.

Our show deals with alcohol, toxic friendships and party culture, so it is intended for a more mature audience. We also explore rampant privilege, and how money and connections can make all the difference in your career. We discuss complicated family dynamics and what it’s like to be overshadowed by an older sibling while having an immense amount of pressure put on you by your parents.

As the youngest in the cast, I can’t help but feel an older-sister type of bond with my castmates, and I feel so incredibly supported, both in the show and with any feelings I might have about the play or my acting or thoughts about the content. Jenna and Jess have made us feel so comfortable in the space. But this is not an exclusive experience to “Giant Slalom.” This is a regular occurrence with all plays at Andy’s; the kids are always part of the play development process. The adults are so willing to work with us, answer questions and take our ideas for the show in stride.

It’s such a fun experience to work with this cast and crew; dance parties are a regular occurrence, as are inside jokes and enormous fits of laughter. Our crew also includes apprentices, who are kids that work on the technical side of things such as lighting, set design, costumes and props. They do all of this work under the watchful eye of Sean.

This show is more mature than those that are usually produced at Andy’s, but that really allows us to get into the nitty-gritty of what it is like to be a teenage girl. As a young woman who competes in a competitive sport (equestrian hunter jumper), it’s easy to understand the way that women are pitted against their friends, fighting against each other, outside elements and society’s standards of beauty and what a female athlete should look like. This show is relatable to anyone who has ever competed in something: athletics, academics or otherwise.

“Giant Slalom” is at Andy’s Summer Playhouse on Thursday, July 14, and Friday, July 15, at 7:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased online at andyssummerplayhouse.org/tickets-2022 or by calling the box office at 603-654-2613. Andy’s is located at 582 Isaac Frye Highway in Wilton. Due to language and mature themes, this show is recommended for mature audiences only.

Lauren Graham, 14, is a cast member of “Giant Slalom” at Andy’s Summer Playhouse.