Katie Hall, 1st Lt. Nate Dowd and Staff Sgt. Wesley Thomas rehearse a scene from “Dearly Beloved” which will open Sept. 10 for three weekends at Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre. Charmain Z. Brackett The colorful residents of Fayro, Texas are preparing for a wedding.

And patrons of the Fort Gordon Dinner Theatre can discover just how much mayhem such a happy occasion can bring with it when “Dearly Beloved” opens Sept. 10 for three weekend performances.

“This play is a true southern comedy,” said Steve Walpert, dinner theater director.

Originally, Walpert had slated the Norm Foster comedy, “Self Help”, into the September slot, but the success of the spring production of “Dixie Swim Club” written by the same playwrights who created “Dearly Beloved” prompted him to change the show.

“This was their first play,” said Walpert of Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten. “Dixie Swim Club was about their fifth one.”

A strong group of auditioning actors also led Walpert to change his mind.

“This is a funny play for a larger cast. It gives a lot of people the opportunity to be in the show,” he said.

Among the cast are a couple of newcomers to the Fort Gordon stage including 1st Lt. Nate Dowd, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 513th Military Intelligence Brigade, who is making his theatrical debut.

“I auditioned because my wife kept telling me ‘you should audition,’” said Dowd, who plays the role of Justin Waverly.

Dowd said he’s not only had to learn lines but theater lingo, and he’s enjoying the experience.

Another new face for dinner theater audiences is that of Katie Hall, the wife of Capt. Noah Hall, who works at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center. She plays the role of G.J.

“I thought it would be a fun way to meet people,” said Hall, who recently relocated to the area.

Hall said she was thrilled when she learned that the Army had a theater program.

“I’ve done theater in the community and in school,” she said. “This is really neat.”

“Dearly Beloved” will be staged Sept. 10, 11, 17, 18, 23, 24 and 25 at the dinner theater building. Dinner begins at 7 p.m., followed by the show at 8 p.m.

For ticket information and reservations, call 793-8552.