The Charleston Community Theater will present “Tuesdays with Morrie” starting Friday.

While the theater group is not directly linked to campus, many of the individuals involved are connected to Eastern.

Gail Richard, chair of the communication disorders and sciences department, will direct the play. Tim Mason, an economics professor, and John Oertling, former chair of the theatre arts department, will fill the two roles of the play.

Mason will play Mitch Albom, a sports writer from Detroit who finds out Morrie Schwartz, his former professor and mentor, has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as Lou Gehrig disease. Oertling will play Schwartz.

Oertling and Mason have acted together in two previous plays, “Twelve Angry Men” and “Over the River and Through the Woods.”

While Mason and Richard have the commitment of working on campus with students, they find time to enjoy the theater as well.

“Time comes from my family,” Mason said. “I have two children in college, which makes it easier.”

The Charleston Community Theatre has been around for around 30 years. Mason said in the late 1990s the group went on a hiatus.

When they brought the group back with the production of “Art,” a friend convinced Mason to audition for the first time.

“They decided to cast the three men from the economics department who auditioned because the characters were supposed to be friends,” Mason said.

Mason never participated in theater during high school or college, but has since he was cast in “Art.”

“Rather than sitting around watching the Bears play I do this,” Mason said.

“I have a facility for remembering lines. I really enjoy it.”

Richard said because of her time constraints as a department chair she is only able to do one production every two years.

“It’s about scheduling my down time,” Richard said.

“If you have something that offsets your professional life that’s very different it makes it enjoyable.”

Richard makes time to get involved with the Charleston Community Theatre when she finds a story worth telling.

“I like a script that tells a story with morals,” Richard said.

“This particular one is very appropriate because it’s about the influence a professor can have on a student’s life.”

When casting, Richard said Mason and Oertling fit well in their roles because of their connections to a college campus.

The casting was done in December during finals week.

“Before Christmas we did a couple read throughs, but we have been hard at work for about four weeks,” Richard said.

Mason said it is different to be in a play with just two characters, but he does not feel any extra pressure.

“You are on stage almost the whole time,” Mason said.

“In other plays you may be back stage through the entire first act. You just have to do your best to bring the writers vision to life.”

“Tuesdays with Morrie” is a true story that was first written as a book. While many people are familiar with it, Richard said she thinks people need to see a different side of the story.

“People who know the story know it’s sad,” Richard said.

“To me that’s not really the story. We’re all going to die; it’s just a matter of when. You just have to make sure you’re living life to full quality.”

“This is a play with a message about what life is about and what it’s not about,” said Cathy Sheagren, a board member of the Charleston Community Theatre.

The theater group partnered with the Tarble Arts Center to use the atrium for performances and auditions.

“We help each other,” Sheagren said. “Our patrons can go to our shows but they also take advantage of the art space and view the displays.”

The advisory board for the theater group is made up of 12 members. They are responsible for all of the sets, show dates and directors involved.

“One member of the board takes an active role in each of the productions,” Sheagren said.

“The board is responsible for whatever needs to be done to pull the production together. It is an advisory board, but we have to work to get the job done.”

This is the second show of the cycle for the community theatre. The fall production was “Bad Year for Tomatoes,” and the spring production will be “Driving Miss Daisy.”

Students are welcomed to try out for the productions.

“We are a community theater and students are certainly part of our community,” Mason said.

“Tuesdays with Morrie” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 and at 2 p.m. on Jan. 23. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for students. Students will receive discounted tickets for $5 on Jan.27.

Ticket reservations can be made by calling 581-2787.