“The Threepenny Opera” is actually not an opera at all, but a musical. It is a story of how capitalism is organized and how corporate greed sustains.

The show will be begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Barnett Theatre, with multiple showings throughout the next two weeks.

The show is filled with shady characters such as beggars, crooks and prostitutes.  Chaos occurs after Polly Peachum’s parents find out about their daughter’s relationship with a crook, Macheath.

Although the musical is set in 1837 London, it appeals to modern-day people because it relates to current issues such as the recession and corporate greed.

“The Threepenny Opera is about society at large, normal people and how their lives are mirrored in these unsavory characters,” Robert Gehrenbeck, conductor of the show, said.

Gehrenbeck said he is very excited about the music and how it is presented in the show.

“The music, just like the show, is not what it seems,” Gehrenbeck said. “There are parts that you think are going to end up nice and pretty, but they actually end up rough and gritty.”

During the past few dress days Gehrenbeck has been able to sit in the orchestra pit and watch the show, which has been “a lot of fun to watch.”

“Just because the word ‘opera’ is in the title, you shouldn’t think that it’s going to be boring. It’s really very entertaining,” Gehrenbeck said.

Cast member Hannah Keefe, sophomore, plays the role of a chorus prostitute.

“It’s interesting to be in the role of a slum,” Keefe said. “I get to add chaos to the craziness.”

Keefe, a vocal education major, said, “It’s not the happy-go-lucky musical that most people know about. It has a dark, twisted side to it.”

The first-time performer is excited to make her debut.   Performing is something Keefe really enjoys, and she is looking forward to showcase her talents in “The Threepenny Opera.”

“I’ve never [performed] before,” Keefe said. “So this is so cool. It’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”

Through her experiences at UW-Whitewater and in theater, she wants to learn as much as she can so she can teach kids in the future.

“My passion is to help kids, especially in the arts,” Keefe said.

Senior Alyssa Windell is a lighting designer for the show.   Her job is to decide where lighting instruments go and what color they need to be.  She also does all the programming materials and brings them up at different times throughout the show.

Windell is a fan of “The Threepenny Opera’s” playwright, Bertolt Brecht.

“He had this whole idea of height and reality,” Windell said. “His aim was to make it appear that the show is as close to reality as possible.  I hope people just enjoy the spectacle of the show … It’s a really good show.”