7 cast portray nearly 60 characters in Belfry’s ‘The Dining Room’ play

Jenn Kaufmann (from left), Mia Gordon, Tim Long, Debbie Underwood, Jeff Maess, Addie Taylor and Tom Riddle (as Ruth, Annie, Russell and The Dining Room Guests) rehearse one of 18 scenes portraying nearly a total 60 characters for The Belfry Theatre’s production of “The Dining Room,” a comedy/drama opening Jan. 21 at The Switch Theatre in Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy in Fishers. (Photo provided by The Belfry Theatre)

Submitted by The Belfry

Hamilton County Theatre Guild presents The Belfry Theatre’s production of The Dining Room, a comedy/drama by A.R. Gurney, opening Jan. 21 with eight performances through Jan. 30 at The Switch Theatre in Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy in Fishers.

The Dining Room is a comedy of manners set in a dining room where a dozen-and-a-half scenes from different households overlap and intertwine. Actors change roles, personalities and ages with virtuoso skill as they portray a wide variety of characters, from little boys to stern grandfathers and from giggling teenagers to Irish housemaids.

Tom Riddle and Debbie Underwood (Ted and Peggy, foreground) and Mia Gordon, Tim Long and Jeff Maess (background) (as Billy, Sandra and Brewster) rehearse a scene for The Belfry Theatre’s production of The Dining Room, a comedy/drama opening Jan. 21 at The Switch Theatre in Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy in Fishers. (Photo provided by The Belfry Theatre)

Director is Diane W. Wilson of Carmel. She is a new director to The Belfry.

The cast of seven will portray 60 total characters over three decades. The cast features Mia Gordon of Noblesville, Debbie Underwood of Carmel, and Tim Long, Jeff Maess, Tom Riddle, Jennifer J. Kaufmann and Addie Taylor of Indianapolis.

The crew includes: producer,  Betsy Reason of Noblesville; stage manager, Anne Auwaerter of Fishers; house manager, Nancy Lafferty of McCordsville; costumes, Addie Taylor and Diane Wilson; lighting designer, New Palestine; lighting operator, Quinten Hobbs of Noblesville; property mistress, Diane Wilson; Props, Molly Kraus, Susie Walden, Jan Borcherding and Sherri Byer; sounds designer and operator, Eric Dixon of Indianapolis; set design and decoration, Diane Wilson; set construction, Richard Wilson of Carmel and Doug Whisman of Fishers; set crew, Richard Wilson, Sherri Byer of Noblesville, Tim Long, Jeff Maess, Michelle Maess, all of Indianapolis; Debbie Underwood of Carmel; Tony Gordon and Alec Gordon of Noblesville; headshots photography, Erin Keller of Fishers.

The show opens Jan. 21 and continues with eight performances through Jan. 31, at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Jenn Kaufmann (from left), Jeff Maess, Mia Gordon and Tom Riddle (as Emily, Standish, Claire and David) rehearse for The Belfry Theatre’s production of The Dining Room, a comedy/drama opening Jan. 21 at The Switch Theatre in Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy in Fishers. (Photo provided by The Belfry Theatre)

Tickets are $17 for adults, $14 for ages 12 and younger and ages 65 and older. Group tickets of 10 or more are also available when booked in advance.

The play will be staged at The Switch Theatre in Ji-Eun Lee Music Academy, 10029 E. 126th St., Suite D, Fishers.

This is the second show in The Belfry Theatre’s 57th season for 2021-22.

For tickets, call 317-773-1085 or go online at thebelfrytheatre.com.