The Gothenburg Community Playhouse was formed in 1968, and purchased the Sun Theater in 1983. Since that time they have offered playhouse productions several times a year and strive to bring the community the highest quality of varied entertainment in the form of outside productions, talent shows, and live musical concerts.

Another fabulous show is currently in rehearsal, and the cast includes Callaway girl Haylee Stryker. This is not Haylee’s first stint with the company, as she portrayed Mrs. Cratchit in last year’s adaptation of “A Christmas Carol”. The stage has always been a place where Stryker has found joy, and she said she is very excited about the opportunity to be performing in front of an audience again.

“Singing, acting, writing - I've had my hands in all these different forms of the arts for a majority of my life. I still don't know for sure which is my favorite,” Stryker shared.

Director Lori Long said she is very excited about the production - which offers something a little new and different than in the past. This is the first time the playhouse has done an all-adult cast, and the first time this GHS teacher and drama coach has worked with one.

That led her to the decision to select a play geared for adult actors, and “Let’s Murder Marsha” was the production that grabbed her attention.

“It’s about a couple that’s been married for a while and her husband wants to surprise her for her birthday with this huge gift, that she overhears but mistakenly construes it as a plan to get rid of her,” Long explained. “It’s just about a whole lot of misunderstandings and taking things out of context. It’s just something a little bit more mature and different.”

Auditions were held last month, and rehearsals have begun for the play which will be performed for the public July 15 and 16. Stryker plays the role of Persis Devore: A lady with a secret - definitely an "eye" for all things style.

“I'm incredibly thrilled to have this character; Persis Devore is so much fun to play,” said Stryker. “She's completely different than me and I get to put on this fun accent when I play her. I'm even getting my hair dyed for the part, so that tells you how much I enjoy this character.”

Long said she is having a blast working with an all-adult cast and the production itself is very fun. “The dialogue and comedy is very much like a Three’s Company episode, but if I said that to a high school kid they wouldn’t know what I was talking about,” she laughed.

“Let’s Murder Marsha” is technically a three-act play, but does not break time from start to finish. The production is anticipated to be about a two-hour show. “It’s going to be a hoot,” said Long.

“As for the ability to perform: It's great! It's so much fun!,” Stryker added. “I love this kind of thing, and since Callaway doesn't really have community theater anymore, it's nice to be able to go somewhere fairly close that does have theater and get to have fun on the stage. It's almost like being back in high school One Acts again with all the fun, but minus the pressure of competition and early mornings. I'm still definitely going to get jitters when we perform though. That will always be the same.”

Performances are set for 7 p.m. each night on Friday, July 15 and Saturday, July 16. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for kids and are available at the door or online at gothenburgsun.com.