111 East Washington Street
P. O. Box 635
Rockingham, N.C. 28380


The Nerd
A Comedy by Larry Shue

Auditions - September 13,14, 15
Show Dates - November 4, 5, 6 and 11, 12,13

This extraordinarily inventive, side-splitting comedy is unquestionably one of the funniest plays ever written.

Now an aspiring young architect in Terre Haute, Indiana, 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 has life after he was seriously wounded in Vietnam. He has written to Rick to say that, as long as he is alive, "you will have somebody on Earth who will do anything for you" --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.


The various adventures with Willum and Rick along with Willum's close friends, leads to one uproarious laughter after another as Rick Steadman outstays his welcome with a vengence. Finally, the normally placid Willum finds himself contemplating violence to rid himself of his new, unwanted friend. Instead, Willum's friends coerce him into another wild event in an effort to politely drive him away. All this surmounts in a surprise ending leaving even the forwarned shocked!

In this particular photo, Jim Butler's character "Rick aka the Nerd" is excited about playing a game of shoes and socks with the rest of the cast.
Left to right: Dean Jenks, Jim Butler, Karen Allen

Cast:

Jim Butler “Rick”
Jim Butler is no stranger to acting.  This is currently his 17th year of involvement at Richmond Community Theatre.  Butler’s tenure here has provided audiences with memorable roles on the RCT stage, most notably the “Greater Tuna” productions.  The “Tuna” productions here provided Butler a canvas to cultivate hilarious performances for our audiences.  Butler is currently playing the lead of Rick aka “The Nerd”.  Amazingly, this is not his first time at bat with this role.  Jim’s comedic wit bundled with his physical humor skills made him the perfect choice to command this role during its first run in 1989, and now in 2004.  An avid reader and a golf aficionado, Jim has maintained the principal’s position at Washington Street Elementary school for 4 years, is raising 2 boys and at press time, was leading his fantasy baseball team “The Whammers” to the playoffs.
 
 
Todd Barnes "Waldgrave"
Born and raised in Richmond County, Todd Barnes takes the stage for the 1st time in “The Nerd”.  For 16 years Barnes has been a manufacturing engineer and is a father of one.  As a family man, he enjoys spending quality time with his kith and kin, enjoys golf and other sports (mostly NC State athletics) and still has time for the stage.  The character of Waldgrave demands that Barnes be very temperamental and brimming with rage.  It’s quite amazing to watch Todd snap and yell in character, then, completely calm down when a scene is complete.
 



Will Currie “Thor”
All of 13 years old, Will Currie is appearing in his 1st RCT production as Thor.  Will enjoys a plethora of sports including, but not limited to: golf, baseball, and football.  His involvement in a vast array of physical activities is a good primer for what he will be doing on stage.  The Thor character is a take-no-prisoners wild child and every parent’s worst nightmare.  Be prepared to see Will light a fire across the stage.
 





Lindsay Melton "Clelia"
A former High School English teacher and mother of 3, Lindsay Melton is in her 2nd year of RCT.  Portraying the role of Clelia, Melton is required to smash breakable objects on stage, as a result of her character’s emotional strain.  The character of Clelia is the wife of angry-man Waldgrave and mother of superbrat Thor.  Lindsay last appeared in the 2003 production of Dearly Departed” where she was the supportive wife of a semi-successful man in a family of ne’er-do-wells.  She must now transform into a character that has a crumbling prim and proper appearance until she literally breaks something to calm her down.  But is doesn’t last long.
 

Bill Cleveland “Willum”
Entering into his 4th year at RCT theatre, Bill Cleveland springs into the role of Willum.  A dentist of 24 years and the father of a freshman attending UNC-Wilmington, Cleveland is a 17 year Richmond County resident.  Appearing in past productions such as “Prisoner of 2nd Avenue” and “Dearly Departed”, Cleveland portrays Willum as an aspiring young architect whose life was saved in a war by someone he was never able to thank.  We will see Cleveland show Willum’s life come crashing down when that someone (The Nerd) pays him a visit.  We are pleased to have Bill Cleveland volunteer his time to RCT between his writing, photography, woodworking and kayaking hobbies, along with his 16-year involvement in the Hamlet Rotary club.
 

Dean Jenks “Axel”
The character of Axel requires Dean Jenks to be verbally penetrating and sarcastic.  Axel is a drama critic and friend to both characters Willum and Tansy.  A 1st year substitute teacher and  black belt in karate, Jenks is just as excited about this role as he was about his first role as Marley in “A Christmas Carol” in 1991.  When not on the RCT stage you may see Jenks at the First Health gym, or hunting, fishing and definitely spending time with his 2 children.  A Richmond County resident all his life, Dean slides right into the role of Axel, doling out audible slaps to his peers making us think “what a jerk” but ultimately proving his considerable loyalty to a friend in need.
 


Karen Allen “Tansy”
A graduate of UNC-Wilmington and mother of 2, Karen Allen, like most of her cast mates, is no foreigner to acting.  Since she was 10 years old, Allen has been performing on stage.  Now an English teacher of 15 years, Allen maintains close relationships with her family, is active in 1st Presbyterian Church and can appreciate a good nap.  Karen appears as Tansy, who appears to be a former girlfriend of Axel.  Tansy has dreams of leaving Terre Haute and wants them to include Willum.   Karen Allen kicks into the role of Tansy when her character teams up with Axel to assist Willum in dealing with “The Nerd”.
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The Nerd production photos


Created by *duane.
Click on an image below for a larger view.  The link will take you to another website for additioanl viewing options.
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For additional information please call or write:
Richmond Community Theater
P.O. Box 635
Rockingham, N.C. 28380
(910) 997-3765
E-Mail

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