Jackson County Players members Neil Loprinzi, Marie Spangler McCauley, Josh Donohew, Cam Matheny and Lakin Plott prepare for the Carol Burnett Comedy Hour show set for Friday and Saturday at the Alpine Theater at 7 p.m. (Photo Provided)

RIPLEY — Characters from the well-known Carol Burnett Show will come to life onstage as the Jackson County Players ready for this weekend’s performances.

Actors will present eight memorable skits from the show during the Carol Burnett Comedy Hour and Jackson County Players board president Doug Torres said it will be a fun show for every member of the audience.

The Carol Burnett Comedy Hour will be Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Alpine Theater in Ripley. Tickets are $10 at the door.

The Carol Burnett Show first aired in 1967 with witty skits that created timeless, funny content, Torres said.

“Some of the stuff that was funny in the ’60s and ’70s is still funny and relatable today,” he said.

Marie Spangler McCauley and Neil Loprinzi with Jackson County Players practice performing the Carol Burnett Comedy Hour show for this weekend’s performances at the Alpine Theater in Ripley. (Photo Provided)

The board members have this production tabled since pre-pandemic times and Torres said he’s is excited to potentially reach a new audience with younger people who aren’t familiar with the show.

Director Christina Iman views Carol Burnett as one of her heroes and thinks people will enjoy the performance.

“The show is a funny look at a classic television show, one that’s beloved by a lot of people, especially in this area. I (am) excited to be able to bring her to our local stage,” Iman said.

The 10-member cast is made up of seasoned thespians and a few new faces. Iman said it’s a goal for a new production to bring in first-time cast members.

“They’ve been working really hard throughout the summer and they’ve been very good to come whenever we’ve had a rehearsal scheduled,” Iman said. “They come with their own ideas, costumes and things they want to incorporate. They’re just very dedicated to the show and what we’re trying to do.”

The skits will feature a few remembered characters from the show including the The Old Folks and the Fireside Girl.

“I think people will get a big kick out of those,” Iman said. “We try really hard to put on good shows every time and if people come out, I think they’ll really enjoy it. It’s kind of like Saturday Night Live. This is universal comedy, it’s always funny.”

Iman said it’s important for people to support local theatre as it gives people an opportunity to participate in something they love.

“Every great society throughout history has had a strong arts community and it’s even more important when it’s a local, small organization,” Iman said. “It’s volunteers putting in their time. It’s not our job, it’s something we do because we love it. It becomes really difficult if we don’t have an audience.”