BUCYRUS – A Bucyrus native will be making her directing debut when the curtain opens for the Bucyrus Little Theatre’s production of “The Boys Next Door.”

Marina Bayless, a theatre veteran who has mostly worked behind the scenes, is directing the show, which will run March 11-13 and March 18-20. Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. with the two Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m.

“It’s going great. My cast is amazing,” said Bayless, a 2017 Bucyrus High School graduate. “Almost all of them have done multiple shows at the Bucyrus Little Theatre. It’s all coming together. We’re really having a good time.”

Bayless co-directed “The Great Gatsby” for the theatre and was assistant director for the musical “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” She also ran the lighting last year for “The Addams Family-A New Musical Comedy.”

Bayless said she grew up going to B.L.T. shows and even acted at a young age. In high school, however, she found her niche as a sound technician for plays such as “Annie,” “A Little Princess,” and “Into the Woods,” as well as for Wynford H.S. musicals.

“The Boys Next Door” is the story of four mentally disabled men who live in a group home under the supervision of a social worker. “It just kind of goes through their daily lives,” Bayless said. “It shows the social worker trying to find a new job and has some funny moments.”

The burned-out social worker, Jack Palmer, is portrayed by Jeff Evans. Starring as the men are Tim Lovato as Arnold Wiggins, Jason Chandler as Lucien P. Smith, Jim Messenger as Norman Bulansky, and Nate Nash as Barry Klemper.

Alexa Franklin returns to the stage as Sheila, Norman’s girlfriend, and Randy Mann plays Mr. Klemper, Barry’s abusive father. Rounding out the cast are Marley Eidson as Mrs. Warren, Mrs. Fremus, and Clara and Curtis Ashley as Mr. Hedges, Mr. Corbin, and Senator Clarke.

Tickets for the show are $15 for adults and $10 for students. The theatre, located at 130 Songer Ave., will wrap us its 2021-22 season in June with the production of “Monty Python’s Spamalot” directed by Cheri Laughbaum.