It can be easy to get lost in a cast of over six dozen people, but no performer fades into the background in NU Stage Musical Theater Company’s fall revue.

NU Stage’s semesterly revue is a performance of songs and scenes from different musicals centered around one common theme. This fall’s show, titled “Through Thick and Thin,” features 23 numbers, including “What Is This Feeling?” from “Wicked,” “Sincerely, Me” from “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Life’s a Happy Song” from “The Muppets,” that explore friendship in all stages — the loving and the loathing. 

The revue is a no-cut show, meaning that any student who auditions is guaranteed to be cast. This fall, there are 73 cast members, 15 pit orchestra members and 21 production staff and crew members. During production, cast members said they often form friendships with the performers they share scenes with and especially bond as a full cast during tech week — a week of intensive rehearsals leading up to opening night.

Christine Purschke, a fourth-year English and communication studies combined major, has been involved in NU Stage productions since her first semester at Northeastern. As a seasoned member of the club, she has formed lasting relationships through each show she has performed in, she said.

“I’m what the kids call ‘old-stage,’” Purschke said. “NU Stage has been such an integral part of my time at Northeastern … [the revue] feels like a really nice way to pay homage to the past three years I’ve had in this club.”

The revue’s theme resonates deeply with NU Stage members beyond the cast as well. Abbey Buetow, a third-year international affairs and cultural anthropology combined major, is the production’s assistant director alongside director Jackson Evans, a fifth-year behavioral neuroscience major. This is Buetow’s first semester on the production staff — informally known as “p-staff.” She said she had considered applying for the position for a while and thought this semester’s theme would be fun to help bring to life. 

“I feel like friendship is the spirit of theatre itself,” Buetow said. “Especially this semester being on p-staff, everyone on p-staff has just been incredibly welcoming and very nice and inclusive, and I’ve really appreciated it as someone who upon first meeting people might be a little shy … people in NU Stage really try to make the effort to really reach out to people and build those friendships, even in those situations where it might be a little bit awkward at first.”

When Karlee Malcolm first came to Northeastern, she was too nervous to audition. Malcolm, a fourth-year design major, said she has seen her confidence grow each semester she has been a part of the revue. This semester, she is singing her first solo, “What It Means to Be a Friend” from “13: The Musical,” and delivers a powerful, heartfelt performance about navigating the complexities and struggles of friendships in adolescence.

Many NU Stage members’ first experience with the club is through the revue. Emma Kriz, a third-year cell and molecular biology major, participated in the summer revue and auditioned again this fall. 

“I feel like the revue is very palatable,” Kriz said. “It’s very easy to step into, and it doesn’t feel overwhelming because it’s not a full-length show.”

Kate Bender, a second-year psychology major, auditioned for the revue for the first time this semester after hearing about it from Kriz. In such a large cast, Bender was surprised at how quickly people learned her name.

“People are really just so welcoming and open here,” she said. “Even though it’s a really huge club and they’re doing so much, it feels like they genuinely care about every number and every person in it. And so that was a really happy thing.”

The two friends are performing together in “The Mad Hatter” from “Wonderland” and have a featured duet in the closing number, “Life’s a Happy Song.”

The close friendships among the cast and the production staff are evident in the infectious energy displayed on stage.

“That Beautiful Sound” from “Beetlejuice” is a high-spirited song featuring a tap-dancing ensemble and two powerhouse soloists: Braden Gastaldi, a fourth-year business administration and design combined major, and Lara Koppel, a third-year speech-language pathology and audiology major.

“If You Were Gay” from “Avenue Q,” performed by Liam Prendergast, a fifth-year communication studies and theatre combined major, and Steven Fontana, a fourth-year mechanical engineering major, is hilariously playful, and the pair’s comedic timing and chemistry make the song a standout performance.

The revue’s choreography also shines throughout the show, with memorable dance ensembles in “Carrying the Banner” from “Newsies,” “The Mad Hatter” and “Friend Like Me” from “Aladdin,” all of which were choreographed by Mary Catherine Abowd, a third-year health science major. 

“It’s just such a fun show,” said Ria Slater, a fourth-year ecology and evolutionary biology major. “You don’t have to pay attention to a plot because it’s just a bunch of different songs that are all just super fun. There are many, many, many dozens of talented people in this show and so many different performances that you’re going to see.”

“There’s something for everybody in every revue,” said Elaina Murdock, a fourth-year English and graphic and information design combined major. “It’s not like any other show you’re going to see somewhere else.”

NU Stage will perform “Through Thick and Thin” in Blackman Auditorium Dec. 9 and Dec. 10 at 8 p.m.