Actors from Big Spring and Coahoma high schools will join in the production, which begins at 8 p.m. each night. Admission is $3 for students and college staff and $5 for general admission. Because of limited seating, officials ask that persons call 264-5161 to reserve tickets.

“Arsenic and Old Lace” may be the most famous black comedy of the 20th century. It was originally staged in 1941 and has been a staple of scholastic and summer stock theater companies since.

The reason for its longevity is simple, said HC Theater Department Chairman Kirk Davidson.

“It's a hilarious comedy — about serial killers,” Davidson said. “These two, sweet old ladies want everyone else to find the same kind of peace their father found.”

Headlining the cast is the past and future of the Big Spring High School Theater Department — departing director Tracie Lindsey and current head Tabitha Wright — as Abby and Martha Brewster, the murderous, daffy sisters. This will mark Lindsey's final theater production in Big Spring before she moves to California this summer.

After staging the highly dramatic “Diary of Anne Frank” earlier this year, Davidson said the theater department definitely wanted to change gears.

“Definitely, we wanted to perform something lighter, especially for a summertime play,” he said. “People can came and escape back to the 1940s ... and spend some time with the Brewsters.”

Davidson said the play has something to offer the entire family.

“If you love great melodrama, this is it,” he said. “It's got great villains, it's got a great love story and it's got two great characters you can't help but adore ... If Spielberg was directing movies back in the 1940s, this is the kind of show he would have directed.”

Contact Staff Writer Steve Reagan at 263-7331 ext. 234 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it