Good Neighbors Theatre announces auditions for its next production, First Baptist of Ivy Gap by Ron Osborne. Auditions will be held on Tuesday, August 13 and Thursday, August 15 at 6:00 pm at the GNT building, 8780 Highway 111 in Byrdstown.

Production dates are scheduled for October 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, and 26.

First Baptist of Ivy Gap is the story of six women who gather at the church in 1945 to roll bandages for the soldiers fighting in World War II, and to plan the church’s 75th anniversary.

Overseeing things is Edith, the pastor’s wisecracking wife who dispenses Red Cross smocks and witty repartee to Luby, whose son is fighting in the Pacific; Mae Ellen, the church’s rebellious organist who wants to quit but hasn’t the courage; Olene, who dreams of a career in Hollywood; Sammy, a shy newcomer with a secret; and Vera, an influential church member with a secret of her own.

Twenty-five years later our “First Baptist Six” reunite for the church’s 100th anniversary. With humor and pathos, these six very different women find comfort, forgiveness and redemption in each other.

First Baptist of Ivy Gap was first produced in 2001 where it was the winning entry in the 2001 Backdoor Theatre New Play Project Competition. It was subsequently produced by Backdoor Theatre in Wichita Falls, Texas in 2002.

A subsequent version of the play was selected as the 2002 winner of Barter Theatre’s Appalachian Festival of Plays and Playwrights and was produced by Barter Theatre at Abingdon, Virginia in July of 2003.

Barter Theatre subsequently produced a main stage production of the play in June of 2004. It recently enjoyed an extended run at Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, Tennessee.

The play is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. and will be directed by Melva Nunnery.

For more information, contact Melva at 931-445-4271.