East Brainerd Community Theater invites everyone to "put on your Sunday clothes" and attend the troupe's rendition of the classic 1964 musical "Hello, Dolly."
The show will be the largest ever for the theater group, featuring 41 cast members and specially built orchestra seating for the performance at Christ United Methodist Church July 20-23, said Director Stephanie Pearson.
"It's a big, kind of old-fashioned grand musical," Pearson said. "It's got some big production numbers in it, so I'm glad to have that many people onstage. That variety is something we strive for, to make theater accessible for everyone."
Many of the younger cast members weren't familiar with the play prior to auditioning, Pearson said. However, the production's overall message about re-engaging with life is one with which she believes everyone can identify.
"If you've seen 'Wall-E' the Disney movie, you've seen a scene of 'Hello, Dolly,'" Pearson said. "It's about trying to step back out into life and how it's really hard. It's a very relevant theme."
Before and throughout the show, the troupe will collect donations in the lobby to benefit The Next Door, a nonprofit dedicated to providing resources to incarcerated women in Hamilton County who are about to be released.
"It's about getting back out there, in a different way, of course, but in line with the show's message, too," Pearson said of The Next Door. "The money we raise will go toward supporting that."
The show runs July 20-22 at 7:30 p.m. nightly, and Sunday, July 23 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets cost $10 per person.
For more information or to buy tickets in advance, visit ebctchatt.com. Tickets will also be available at the door.