COMMERCE, Texas -- A cast of Texas A&M University-Commerce students and public school students is busy in rehearsals for "Treasure Island," which will open on Thursday, July 3, at the University Playhouse.

The 18th century adventure will be presented at 8 p.m. July 3 and Friday, July 5. A special July 4 show will be presented at 6 p.m. with a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. July 6.

For the second week of the run, performances will be at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 10, through Saturday, July 12, with a Sunday matinee at 3 p.m. July 13.

Directing the action-packed play based on the Robert Lewis Stevenson seafaring classic is Cleo House, a 2000 graduate of A&M-Commerce with a bachelor's degree in theatre. Originally from Hooks, House is an assistant professor in the theatre department at Penn State Berks.

There are 21 actors in the production with several of the cast members playing multiple roles. Work on the show has been going "fast and furious" with rehearsals from 6 to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, House said.

Commerce Middle School student Audrey Anderson is playing the role of Benn Gunn, a 60- or 70-year-old man. Sarah Stogner-Dickinson, another Commerce Middle School student, is cast as the Wealthy Daughter on the Dock.

Others in the cast are Rachel Fields as Jim Hawkins, Craig Wheeler as Long John Silver, Kari Anderson as Dr. Livesy, Garrison Ausburn as Squire Trelawney, Chad Pope as Cpt. Smollett, Lacy Price as Black Dog/Tom Morgan, Rob McWhorter as Jim's Father/Josiah Bland, and Terrence "T.J." Goebig as Israel Hands/Rev. Mainwaring.

Others in the cast are Deborah Capehart as Mrs. Hawkins/Wealthy Mother on Dock, Angela Cushing as Widow Drews, Gerald Taylor II as Justice Death, Andrew Pierce as Boy with barrow/sailor/pirate, and Samantha Grace as Capt. Flint/Ezekial Hazard.

Also John F. Dorrough as Bill Bones/Calico Jack; Karen Akins, the Beggar; Lekethia Dalcoe, Blind Pew/Anne Bonny; R. Kevin Morris, George Merry; Holly Stone, Job O'Brien/J. Rathbone; Renee Caldwell, Pirate/Prostitute; Sarah Stogner-Dickinson, Wealthy Daughter on the Dock; and Audrey Anderson, Benn Gunn.

Tickets for "Treasure Island" are $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, and $5 for students. For reservations, call the Playhouse Box Office at 903-886-5900. 

"TREASURE ISLAND" CAST - The cast for the Texas A&M University-Commerce production of "Treasure Island" takes a break for a group photo. On the bottom row from left are Craig Wheeler, Karri Anderson, John Dorrough, Gerald Taylor II, Chad Harrison Pope, Rachel Fields, Angela E. Cushing, Andrew Pierce, Mel Baumgartner, and R. Kevin Morris. On the second row are Audrey Anderson, Samantha Grace, and Holly A. Stone. On the top row from left are LeKeithia Dalcoe, Lacy Nicole Price, Renee Caldwell, Rob McWhorter, Sarah Stogner-Dickinson, Cleo House, Garrison Ausburn, Karen Akins, and Terrence J. Goebig. The seafaring adventure opens at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 3, on the Main Stage of the Performing Arts Center. (A&M-Commerce photo)