CCPA presents 'The Nerd' at Fox Playhouse this weekend

The cast of the "The Nerd" includes Jane Ann Hancock, Danielle Fischer, Miriam Taylor, Gabe Weston, Aubrey Robinson, Michael Serna, and Cami Brillhart. The play is presented by the Community Council on the Performing Arts (CCPA).

Submitted Photo

In Terre Haute, Ind., a young Vietnam war veteran seems to have their life figured out. He has a promising career, a home filled with good friends and tenants, and a budding romance. He’s grateful for this life and he owes it all, every breath, to a man he never met. A man that dragged his unconscious body through a war zone to save his life, and that man is moving in today and calling in every bit of that debt.

In Larry Shue’s comedy “The Nerd” three friends must band together with grace, patience, and wit to entertain their bizarre guest. The Community Council on the Performing Arts (CCPA) brings this raucous comedy, sponsored by Carson Wealth Management Group and directed by Milly Hall.

Michael Serna leads as the kind and intelligent architect Willum Cubbert who is turning 45 today with his best friends, art critic Axel Hammond whose cutting and witty patter is ably delivered by Cami Brillhart, and idealistic and perky Tansy McGinnis who is brightly brought to the stage by Aubrey Robinson.

They are prepared to entertain an army of friends and clients for their well-meaning (if a bit of a pushover) friend and landlord. Jane Ann Hancock dawns a mustache as Willums client, wealthy and no-nonsense Hotelier Warnock Waldgrave, the grinch of the entire architect industry. Danielle Fischer looks stunning in red as his nervous wife Clelia who will make you gasp with her new earth (enware) shattering stress relief technique. Miriam Taylor will keep you on your toes in terror as their spoiled brat of a child, Thor.

It’s the perfect birthday party and the only thing that could make it better is a surprise announcement that his personal (and titular) hero Rick Steadman is showing up and moving in today! Gabe Weston will have you living in a surreal world as he brings this bizarre antagonist to life.

“The Nerd” is an irreverent comedy delivering belly laughs and guilty snorts. It once had over 440 runs on Broadway in 1987 and explores themes of selflessness and selfishness in what we do for others while remaining true to ourselves with a fast-paced pitch of one-liners and situational comedy.

You can catch “The Nerd” Thursday, March 2, through Saturday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, March 5, at 2 p.m., at Nevada’s Fox Playhouse.