The Charleston Community Theatre will perform “An Evening Backstage,” consisting of three acts at the Tarble Arts Center.

The shows will be at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 29, Jan. 30, Feb. 4, Feb. 5, and Feb.6 with a matinee at 2 p.m. on Jan. 31.

“The Professional”, “Laughs”, and “Who Am I This Time?” are the three acts in “An Evening Backstage.”

Tickets cost $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $5 for students.

Gail Mason, the president of the CCT said the play is called “An Evening Backstage” because each of the three different acts addresses issues and processes that occur offstage.

Gail Mason said these comedies provide a fun opportunity for CCT to share how actors prepare for their roles and the response actors have to their own work as well as the performances of their colleagues.

The three comedies will have 11 different actors performing, with four actors new to the theatre.

Charleston resident Therese Kincade will direct the first act, “The Professional.”

The 10-minute monologue will be performed by one actor, Tim Mason, Gail Mason’s husband.

“The act presents the audience with one man’s perception of his acting method, which seems to be quite unsuccessful, given that he has been fired on multiple occasions,” Gail Mason said.

The second act, called “Laughs” is directed by Judi Vaughn and performed by Rich Jones, Ann Bruehler, and Rick Addison.

“(“Laughs”) is a 15-minute story about the behind-the-scenes interactions between two actors who harangue their director,” Gail Mason said

The first two acts are from Mary Louise Wilson’s “Theatrical Haiku.”

There will be an intermission between the second and third acts.

The third act will be approximately one hour and is from the script, “Who am I this time?” by Aaron Posner and was adapted from a short story by Kurt Vonnegut.

“The audience will get a glimpse of what is involved in community theatre, including deciding on a director, conducting auditions, performing and dealing with the sometimes complicated personal lives of the actors,” Gail Mason said.

Tim Mason directs “Who am I this time?” and cast members include Priscilla McKinney, Zach Merritt, Jon Schubert, Kendra Schubert, David Stevens, Jeri Hughes, and Shane Reichart.

Priscilla McKinney, a Charleston resident and new actor for the CCT said she has done some prior acting at Holy Hands, a local ministry.

“The cast I’m working with is great, couldn’t have asked for a better cast,” McKinney said. “We all seem to belong on stage together.”

McKinney said her director and producer have been very helpful.

“They have been a joy to act for,” McKinney said.

McKinney will play the character Helene Shaw, who is the new girl in town in the show.

McKinney said she has enjoyed playing the part of Helene Shaw and would not trade this experience for anything.

Gail Mason is also the producer of “An Evening Backstage.”

Being the producer means being involved in many aspects of the show such as production, securing set pieces, props, costumes, helping with auditions and rehearsals when needed.

Lynnsey Veach can be reached at 581-2812 or at lmveach@eiu.edu