Pendleton Players’ first show of the 2019-20 year is its production of the Neil Simon comedy “Rumors.”

The production opened Wednesday, Aug. 28, and has its final performance at 7 p.m. today, Thursday, Aug. 29, in Loran G. Skinner Auditorium at Pendleton Heights High School.

The show is presented midweek so the community can still support the football team.

The show is more of an adult comedy and probably not appropriate for children.

Ten cast members bring this comedy to life. Four couples are invited to a 10th anniversary party for Charlie Brock, the deputy mayor of New York City, and his wife, Myra.

The party never begins because the host has shot himself in the ear and his wife is missing.

His lawyer, Ken Gorman, played by Parker Smith, decides they must try to cover up the scandal. He enlists the help of his wife, Chris, played by Kaitlyn Wheetley.

As guests begin to arrive, the cover-up becomes more and more difficult to sustain because no one remembers who has been told what about whom.

The next guests who join the party include Lenny Ganz, played by senior Alex Hardin, and his wife, Claire, played by Jillian Sabotnik. They add to the confusion because they have just been in a fender-bender.

Soon, Ernie, played by Luke Robinson, and his wife, Cookie, played by Quinn Miles, arrive.

Finally, Glen and Cassie Cooper arrive. Glen, played by Vincent Spear, and Cassie, played by Macin Precup, are not getting along and add to the mayhem created by all the rumors.

The police, played by Harrison Stull and Joel Gaar, finally arrive to investigate another matter and add to the confusion.

The cover-up and rumors create misunderstandings and comedy that abound.

The technical theater classes, under my direction, are creating a wonderful setting for the production as well as adding lighting and sound to enhance the show.

Pendleton Players’ tech crew will run the backstage area as well. Crew members include stage manager Ashley Ritchie, assistant stage manager Evelyn Garard, fly rail manager Leah Manges, head grip/fly Jared Mossoney with assistance on grip by Gavin Schug.

On the light board is Zach Sanford; sound, Addison Magers and Lilli Burkhardt; props, Elayna Sisson, Emma Weflen and Corydon Roots; costumes, Sophie Fonacier, Kate Ferge, Dawson Garner and Grace McKinnies.

Tickets cost $10 for adults and $7 for students 18 and under and can be purchased online at www.pendletonplayers.com or at the door the nights of the show.

Pendleton Players also recently announced its 2019-20 season, which will include “Elf, The Musical” on Nov. 8, 9 and 10, with tickets going on sale online Oct. 8. This is the Broadway musical version of the popular Will Ferrell movie of the same name.

The Players will then be serving as tech crew for East Elementary School’s production of “Frozen Jr.” directed by Jodi Brown and Melissa Franklin, running Nov. 20-22.

Rounding out the season will be “The Lion King Experience Jr.” which will run April 17-19 and be a wonderful show for our younger audiences as well as adults celebrating the story and music of “The Lion King.”

Also, remember to catch the school choirs on Oct. 3 in their fall choral concert, followed by “Yuletide Celebration,” their Christmas concert on Dec. 12 and 13.

Finally rounding out the Performing Arts Department performances will be Singsation choir performances on May 15 and 16.

People also can check the band concert dates as well as the Jazz Festival at www.phhsperformingarts.com.

Brown is theater program director of the Performing Arts Department at Pendleton Heights High School.