'Man Who Came to Dinner' opens

The 53rd Putnam County Playhouse season will come to an end with a production of "The Man Who Came to Dinner" by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman.

The comedy will be presented this Thursday through Saturday, Sept. 11-13 and again Sept. 17-20.

All performances begin at 8 p.m. All tickets are $10. Reservations can be made by calling the Hazel Day Longden Theatre box office at 653-5880. Box office hours are 5-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Ric McFadden is directing the season finale, assisted by Sandi Rossok.

Working on the technical side are set designer Linda Gjesvold and lighting designer Dustin Bond with assistance from Meghan Armitage. Production stage manager is Madison King. Cecily Girton is running the light board.

The production is being sponsored by Almost Home.

The plot involves Sheridan Whiteside, a popular radio commentator and critic, who is stranded in an Ohio home after falling on the front steps. He creates chaos by taking over the home and inviting all of his famous friends to visit.

Whiteside is played by Jim Rambo, a veteran of many PCPH productions. Rambo has directed recent productions of "Don't Drink the Water" and "Harvey." His performing credits includes roles in "On Borrowed Time," "The Curious Savage" and "Pippin."

Ernest and Daisy Stanley, owners of the besieged home, are played by David Buttram and Katie Wallace. Both have appeared many times onstage.

Buttram was the lead in "Death By Chocolate," while Wallace has appeared in such shows as "I Remember Mama" and "Gypsy."

Lucas Eckrich and Chloe Maginity are cast as the children of the household. Harriet Stanley, a lady with a secret, is played by Shelly McFadden who is also the costumer for the production.

Noelle Brown is making her Playhouse debut in the role of Maggie Cutler, Whiteside's secretary, who finds herself in a romantic triangle with a local newspaperman, Bert Jefferson, played by David Neeley, and famous stage star Lorraine Sheldon, portrayed by Caroline Good.

The household servants are played by Dianna Baysinger and Michael McClaine with the local doctor is portrayed by Jim Green.

The long-suffering nurse, Miss Preen, is played by Kathy Helms Arnold. Interested neighbors include Annie Weltz and Rossok.

Whiteside's visiting acquaintances include Professor Metz, portrayed by Bob Jefferson, making his PCPH debut; Beverly Carlton, a famous actor, played by TJ Tincher, and Banjo, a Hollywood comic, played by Jack Randall Earles.

Also in the cast of the comedy are Dylan Bodnarick, Scott Armitage, Brad Williamson and Gordon Arnold playing a variety of roles.

There is also a brief appearance by a children's choir played by Mychaela Clar, Mia Rios, Alice Howard, Bailey Williams and Makayla Rogers.