The Community Theatre League is excited to present the heartfelt comedy “Calendar Girls” at 7:30 p.m. on May 13 and May 15 and at 2 p.m. on May 16 at their home in downtown Williamsport.

According to a news release, CTL is operating under guidelines set by the CDC and state Department of Health. At under 75% capacity, the Community Theatre League will have a limited number of tickets on sale for each performance, encouraging social distancing, requiring masks to be worn by audiences, staff, and actors, taking temperatures at the door and encouraging patrons to use the sanitizing stations available.

The play is based on the movie of the same name, and on a real-life story. “Calendar Girls” opened on the West End of London in 2010, written by Tim Firth and Juliette Towhidi.

When Annie’s husband John dies of leukemia, she and best friend Chris resolve to raise money for a new settee in the local hospital waiting room. They manage to persuade four friends to pose nude with them for an “alternative” calendar, with a little help from hospital porter and amateur photographer Lawrence. The news of the women’s charitable venture spreads like wildfire, and hordes of press soon descend on the small village of Knapeley in the Yorkshire Dales.

The play is directed by Marie Fox, whose work has previously been seen at CTL with plays including “The Miracle Worker,” “To Kill a Mockingbird” and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” the news release said.

“This show is compelling to me as a director because it is true,” Fox said, according to the news release. “The fact that we are replaying the very real events of a brave group of women makes this different than many other comedies I have worked on at CTL. These women chose to raise money for a man they loved who had died of cancer. They did this to honor him and they ended up honoring not only him but also realizing what can happen when they band together. It is a story of taking chances and learning to be totally comfortable in your own skin. Mostly it is a reminder (especially now, during COVID) of just how short life is and because of this, we need to make the most of it!”

“There are at least two timeless themes in ‘Calendar Girls’: the impact of cancer on the sufferer, their families and friends,” Andree Phillips, who plays the character Annie, said, according to the news release. “And, the beauty and strength of women no matter their age or life-stage. Audiences will laugh and some will cry. They will see the characters and their friendships grow with the passage of time.”

CTL has provided a safe space for rehearsals, and will be following COVID-safety guidelines during performances.

“The directing choices that I make are based on keeping everyone safe,” Fox said, “which means things like eating and drinking have to be modified. I try to keep the actors ‘socially distanced’ from each other, which changes how the emotions of the scene are played. It’s really tough! We have had to “reinvent the wheel” so to speak. Producing a show is stressful enough without being in the midst of a pandemic.”

“CTL has been super vigilant during these COVID times,” Phillips said, according to the news release. “Because of this, we are anxious to see fellow actors’ facial expressions since we’ve been masked since auditions. As show dates approach, we will switch to clear masks which will be a huge improvement.” She also adds that “The Arts are a vital element in the quality of life of any community. As a non-profit, CTL applauds support for other Arts organizations. We all contribute to the special role the Arts play in our area.”

“It is so very important to support community theatres right now,” Fox said, according to the news release. “The entire theatre world is seriously struggling since COVID hit. In order to bring theatre back to life we need all the support that we can get. It is sad that so many theatres have had to close and will not reopen due to covid. We are working as hard as we can to keep CTL afloat because this organization is so important to our community! From the youngest of children to the oldest of adults, our community counts on the classes, shows, concerts, etc. that CTL offers. I am begging people to help CTL to come back stronger than ever before! We can’t do this without our your support!”

The production staff includes Marie Fox (director), Heather Myers (stage manager), Phill Haney, Gerry Gold, Linda Loehr, Karyn Kordes, and Brenda Nichols.

Tickets can be purchased at www.ctlshows.com or by phone at 570-327-1777. Reservations are strongly recommended due to limited seating.

“Calendar Girls” is sponsored by The Holtzman Family, in memory of Donald G. Holtzman.

“Calendar Girls” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals, on behalf of Samuel French Inc.

The Community Theatre League, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is Williamsport’s premier community theatre. Founded in 1976 with the vision of creating a true community-driven organization focused on creating, promoting and supporting the performing arts, The Community Theatre League has presented over 200 Mainstage productions. CTL regularly produces more than a dozen plays or musicals throughout the year, as well as the Family Series, and concert events. CTL holds a variety of summer camps for students of all ages, brings Broadway to Williamsport with the annual Evening with a Star, organizes the Ray of Light Awards for Excellence in High School Theatre, and is the home of the Community Academy of Stage and Theatre.