NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Playwright Donald Margulies’ “Pitching to the Star” will open the fall semester of the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre’s student-directed plays.

Directed by Plano senior Cecily Maucieri, the one-act play will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, in the Downstage Theatre on the SFA campus. The play is about a writer who finally gets a good break for his Hollywood script and pitches it to the star of the pilot show, according to Maucieri. Promised control over something on which he's worked long and hard, Peter finds his integrity and his storyline attacked every time the star makes a suggestion to completely change his script and make the lead character exactly like herself.

The cast includes Lufkin senior Jacob Carr as Dick; Needville junior Alex Duty as Peter; Windsor. U.K., American Theatre Arts student Sophie Todd as Lauri; Copperas Cove freshman Bailey Van Hecke as Jennifer; Leeds, U.K., American Theatre Arts student Keely Runton as Tyne; and Red Oak freshman Beau McAfee as Dena.

The production staff includes Jamie Carroll, Dallas sophomore, as stage manager; Marie Phillips, Lewisville senior, scenic designer; Jordyn Averitte, Baytown sophomore, costume and makeup-hair designer; Gabriel Penaloza-Hernandez,  Austin junior, lighting designer; Victoria Medrano, Edinburg senior, sound designer; and Jessica Benson, Chandler senior, properties master.

Maucieri is a senior teacher certification student. Past SFA productions she has worked on include “Intimate Apparel,” “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson” and “MacBeth.”

“Pitching to the Star” is recommended for mature audiences. Faculty production advisor is Dr. Inga Meier.

The Downstage Theatre is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive.

Tickets are $4. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit theatre.sfasu.edu.