As the weekend nears, the theater department is preparing for its first show of the year. Dearly Departed will debut this Friday, Oct. 15 in the Black Box Theater.

David Bottrell and Jesse Jones’ Dearly Departed is set somewhere south of the Mason Dixon Line. It tells the story of Bud Turpin’s funeral and its aftermath.

“The father figure of this family passes away and then this family has to come together to get ready for the funeral, but it is a pretty dysfunctional family, so hilarity ensues,” director Christopher Rogers said.

Once Bud Turpin passes on, the play continues as his extended family responds to his death.

The play’s cast includes: Keith Owen as Bud Turpin, Corey Shultz as Ray-Bud, Hunter Terry as Junior, Edgardo Garcia as Royce, Braeden Ward as Reverend Hooker, Edgar Cruz as Norval, Julian Simons as Clyde, Jose Cruz as Clarence, Madi Sibley as Raynelle, Rhonda Burnett as Lucilee, Natalie Weber as Suzanne, Natalie Hughes as Marguerite, Cassie Reed as Delightful, Laura Arellano as Veda, Sandy Schwalen as Nadine, Emily Franklin as Juanita and Edith Valadez, Candra Lewis, Alissa Salinas, Keith Owen and Hunter Terry as the Joy of Life Singers.

The crew members include Beth Akin as stage manager, Keith Owen as Assistant Director, Kalie Salzmann and Candra Lewis as the backstage crew and Vanessa Soltero as the lighting operator.

Faculty and students are invited to watch the play this Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Tickets will be sold at the door: adult tickets are $8 and student tickets are $5.