Filled with comedic scenes and familiar characters, Center Street Community Theatre’s production of “M*A*S*H” will be coming to Wagon Wheel’s stage Oct. 2 and 3, plus 9 and 10. The play features about 30 local individuals.
In front, Jason Dugger as Radar listens for incoming wounded. Seated from left are Eric Totheroh as Ugly and Jay Rigdon as Hawkeye. In back are Ian Crighton as Duke; Todd Lucas as Major Frank Burns; and Eddie Hartman as Trapper John.

WARSAW — Once theatre gets into your blood, it’s hard to leave. At least that’s the case for several local community members who are returning again to strut on the stage to present Center Street Community Theatre’s third show, “M*A*S*H,” coming to the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts’ stage in October.

Past productions have included “Cant Take It With You,” a classic, and “Almost Maine,” a more experimental play. “M*A*S*H,” however, will be a comedic and nostalgic experience for audience members.

Wedged somewhere between the TV series and the movie, the play picks up with Hawkeye (Jay Rigdon) and Duke (Ian Crighton), two of the best chest surgeons in South Korea, joining M*A*S*H, or the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. When the pair’s antics are added to Trapper John (Eddie Hartman) and Wal Waldowski’s (Mike Stetzel) outrageous pranks, Colonel Blake (Curt Clevenger) has his hands full. They decide to wage a campaign to get a young Korean named Ho Jon (Barb Heimbach) to the United States and entered in a good school.

The thread of this effort helps tie together the pileup of comic adventures involving other beloved characters.

“The cast size is about 30, which is huge compared to our last two shows,” said Gerald Cox, “M*A*S*H” director, who has had a lifelong interest in the performing arts. He noted it was a huge challenge since all the actors and actresses are community-based and volunteers. “We had to work around work and family schedules.”

Auditions were held from July 23-28 for the play, and rehearsals started in August, both at Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts and the First United Methodist Church in Warsaw.

“M*A*S*H” wasn’t on the initial list for CSCT’s fall play; however, Cox suggested it after other plays didn’t materialize, and it gained the approval of the community theatre’s committee, which reads several plays all yearlong to find matches for CSCT’s spring and fall productions.

“‘M*A*S*H’ is widely recognized by the public,” said Cox. “It’s a fun show, plays well and has recognizable characters.”

He went on to share a personal connection with the play: “My senior year I played Hawkeye.”

Beyond its cast size, “M*A*S*H” did present another challenge. “Adapting to the round (stage) was challenging in itself,” said Cox; however, he noted the play lends itself to the circular stage with its smaller setup and fast pace.

Unlike its previous two shows, which were Friday and Saturday, with a Sunday matinee, “M*A*S*H” will be on stage for two weekends: Oct. 2 and 3, plus 9 and 10. All performances will be at 7:30 p.m. With this change, CSCT hopes more people will turn out and share their love of the performing arts.

“We want to grow the audience as we grow the shows,” Cox said.

“M*A*S*H” marks the first show since CSCT has come under the umbrella of the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, joining groups like Symphony of the Lakes and Wagon Wheel Jr.

Tickets are $12 and can be purchased at the Wagon Wheel box office, by calling (574) 267-8041 or visiting wagonwheelcenter.org/event/mash-presented-csct/.

For information, casting calls and future performance dates, visit Center Street Community Theatre’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CScommunitytheatre?fref=ts, or Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts’ website, wagonwheelcenter.org.

The phone always rings when you’re in the shower, or least that’s the case for Colonel Blake. During rehearsal, Curt Clevenger channels the colonel as he requests more surgeons.