Next Up at Arts Center of Cannon County: Larry Shue's THE NERD

Larry Shue's The Nerd, called by some "one of the funniest plays ever written, opens this Friday, March 29 at The Arts Center of Cannon County in a new production directed by Cyndie Verbeten and running through April 13.

In The Nerd, Willum Cubbert has often told his friends about the debt he owes to Rick Steadman, a fellow ex-GI whom he has never met but who saved his life after he was seriously wounded in Vietnam. He has written to Rick to say that, as long as he is alive, "will have somebody on Earth who will do anything for"-so Willum is delighted when Rick shows up unexpectedly at his apartment on the night of his 34th birthday party. But his delight soon fades as it becomes apparent that Rick is a hopeless "nerd" -a bumbling oaf with no social sense, little intelligence and less tact. And Rick stays on and on, his continued presence among Willum and his friends leading to one uproarious incident after another, until the normally placid Willum finds himself contemplating violence-a dire development which, happily, is staved off by the surprising ending of the play.

Directed by Cyndie Verbeten, the production stars Benjamin Wiehern as Willum Cubbert and Ted Verbeten as Rick Steadman. The cast includes John Ortiz, Eric Massengill, Valerie Conover, Danielle Storvik and Joaquin Highers.

Tickets are $15 with discounts available for students and seniors and can be purchased by calling (615) 563-2787 Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. or online at www.artscenterofcc.com and (subject to availability) at the door one hour prior to show time.

The Arts Center is located on 1424 John Bragg Highway, just west of the town of Woodbury, approximately 20 minutes from Murfreesboro, Manchester, and McMinnville and one hour southeast of Nashville.