The cast and crew of A Hi-Way Inn Holiday’s world premier, written by Iowa playwright Tom Akers, directed by Mary Fasse-Shaw. The show will debut on July 9, with additional shows on the 10th and 11th, all at 7PM inside the Wieting Theater. PHOTOS BY JONATHAN MEYER

The snow is falling, the roads are closed, and the Hi-Way Inn is about to become much more crowded than anyone expected.

Audiences will get to experience winter chaos July 9-11 at the Wieting Theatre as local actors present the world premiere of A Hi-Way Inn Holiday, an original comedy by Iowa playwright Tom Akers.

Directed by Mary Fasse-Shaw, the production will be the first public performance of the play, which has not yet been published. The opportunity arose through technical director Ellen Moran, whose family connection to Akers helped bring the script to Toledo.

“Tom is my first cousin,” Moran said. “I called him up in January and asked if he had a script. He sent us this one.”

Akers, who grew up in Central City and has spent decades involved in community theater throughout Iowa and Illinois, has more than a dozen published plays to his credit. A Hi-Way Inn Holiday now joins that list of works reaching the stage, with the Wieting Theatre serving as its debut production.

Darcy Lamb portraying Kat (left) and Jacob Buchanan portraying Stewie(right) enjoy their stay at the inn, laughing like nobody is watching!

Set during a winter storm in rural Iowa, the comedy follows an unexpected collection of travelers who become stranded at the Hi-Way Inn when a blizzard closes the highway. As guests and staff wait out the storm together, plans change, personalities clash, friendships develop, and the holiday becomes far more memorable than anyone expected.

Fasse-Shaw said rehearsals have progressed smoothly as opening night approaches.

“Everything seems to be going well, and it’s on target,” she said. “I think everybody’s looking forward to it because it’s an original play and we’re going to have the playwright here.”

Akers is expected to attend the production and will participate in a question-and-answer session following the Thursday evening performance, giving audience members an opportunity to hear directly from the playwright about the creation of the play and the experience of seeing it performed publicly for the first time.

The production brings together a mix of veteran community performers, younger actors, and locals with varying levels of theater experience. Fasse-Shaw said that blend is one of the strengths of community theater.

A full look at the set, designed by Technical Director Ellen Moran, as the characters partake in a dance break on the stage of the Wieting.

“It’s just a good mix,” she said. “The older people learn from the younger folks, and the younger folks learn from the older people. We learn from each other.”

The cast includes Charlie Betz, Kathy Holtz, Jacob Buchanan, Darcy Lamb, Nolan Salas, Julie Matta, Alex Babinat, Maddalyn Brown, Jon Huebner, Jean Bolen, Brianna Morrison, David King, Kamea Blackcloud, and Oliver Brown.

Behind the scenes, a volunteer crew has worked to create a unique setting for the production. Because the play is making its debut, there was no previous production to use as a model.

“This one was definitely my creation,” Moran said of the set design. “I had the basic description from the script and went from there.”

Moran designed the set to reflect an aging Midwestern hotel that has not seen major renovations since the 1980s. One of the production’s more unique features is a snowfall effect visible through the inn’s windows, helping bring the blizzard setting to life.

The production also features guest lighting designer Frank Roessler of Marshalltown, who has worked on numerous productions in Marshalltown.

For Moran, one of the most rewarding aspects of the project has been helping bring a family member’s work to the stage while offering audiences something entirely new.

“It’s funny, it’s heartwarming, and people should watch it,” she said.

Performances are scheduled for July 9, 10, and 11 at 7 p.m. each evening at the Wieting Theatre in Toledo. Tickets will be available at the door and are $15 for adults and $8 for students.