Photo Provided Kat Biery, as Nat, and her daughter Becca Corbett, played by Vanessa Rake Koon, in a scene from “Rabbit Hole” opening at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Players Theatre in Marietta.

MARIETTA — “Rabbit Hole,” a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Lindsay-Abaire, opens on Friday at the Mid-Ohio Valley Players in Marietta.

“Rabbit Hole” will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, March 14, and 15 and at 3 p.m. March 16. The theater is at 229 Putnam St. where tickets are available at midohiovalleyplayers.com or at the box office starting 90 minutes before each performance.

The show is presented with permission from Dramatists Play Service.

The show is about Becca and Howie Corbett and the family dealing with the tragedy and grief of losing a 4-year-old son. It premiered on Broadway in 2006.

Becca and Howie Corbett are played by Vanessa Rake Koon and Tim Tuten.

Photo Provided Becca Corbett played by Vanessa Rake Koon and Jason played by Miles McGregor in the Mid-Ohio Valley Players production of “Rabbit Hole.” The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Players Theatre on Putnam Street in Marietta.

“Playing Becca has been such a rewarding challenge as an actor and one of favorite roles I have ever played,” Koon said.

“The emotional journey throughout the show is a true roller coaster as my character processes her grief by shutting out friends and wiping the house clean of memories of life prior to the incident,” she said. “The entire cast has worked hard to make a truly memorable and moving performance. I can’t wait for the community to see this beautiful show.”

Kat Biery portrays Becca’s mom, Nat. Beth Lane plays Becca’s sister, Izzy, who provides moments of laughter and love to show they are not alone in the trials faced. Miles McGregor plays Jason, who shows a different side of grief and how to deal with the guilt that comes with it.

“I am excited to share this lovely story,” Biery said. “My character is a little rough around the edges, often causing her to be misunderstood. But she also brings some light moments to the stage with her wit and humor.”

Having lost her son 11 years earlier, she has coping skills she wants to share with Becca, but as with many families, the last person Becca wants advice from is her well-meaning mother.

Co-directors are Jeff and Suzanne Walker. The assistant director is Jason Half. Stage manager is Eliz Kinser.

“From the first time I read the script, I was drawn in by Lindsay-Abaire’s ability to seamlessly intertwine wit and grief together to tell a very honest account of how we deal with the traumas of life. We have a very talented cast who deliver both the humor and the pathos,” Suzanne said.

“They will make you laugh out loud in places and five minutes later make you appreciate just how precious life is.”

Families deal with grief in different ways, Jeff said.

“Some get through with humor, and you will definitely experience humor through the play. At times tragic moments ride to the fore, and ‘Rabbit Hole’ is no exception. It is a complete and honest look at all the ways a family comes to terms with tragedy,” he said. “Come prepared to laugh and shed some tears as well.”

Suzanne said she was drawn to the show because “grief is a universal emotion that we all experience.

“‘Rabbit Hole’ does what theatre does best,” she said. “It gives us a way to explore the things we feel most uncomfortable talking about.”

As part of the playbill and lobby display at the Players Theater, GriefShare.org, a national grief recovery program with two local groups at Gilman United Methodist Church and at the Basilica of St. Mary both in Marietta, will be featured.

“We live in a world today with grief all around us. We have to find ways to come together to help each other,” Suzanne said. “Part of community theatre is helping make connections. We are so pleased to be able to use ‘Rabbit Hole’ as a way to get the word out about this valuable resource.”