'Nerd' is a comedy about a house guest who wears out his welcome

When a man saves your life, you owe him everything. In Larry Shue's comedy, "The Nerd," this obligation becomes unbearable and downright impossible.

The Dakota Organization's production of "The Nerd," opens Thursday and continues through Sunday at the CVIC Hall in Minden.

The story is of a young man wounded in Vietnam saved by a man he never saw. The unlikely hero is a socially inept character who reunites with the saved man but overstays his welcome.

"The Nerd" was first presented in 1981 by the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre and produced a year later by the Royal Exchange Theatre Company in Manchester, England. The play ran successfully on Broadway in 1987 and has been an audience favorite ever since.

"The Nerd" is the fourth Dakota Organization production presented at the CVIC Hall and the directing debut of the theater arts group's founder Teri Lynn. The cast includes Christopher Willson as Willum the architect, Jody Paslov as Rick the nerd, Richard Garrett as Axel, Andie Anderson as Tansy, Jim DeZerga as Warnock, Karen Chandler as Clelia and Braeden Garrett as young Thor.

The Dakota Organization is a Minden-based, nonprofit theater arts group dedicated to sustaining and advancing live performing arts with an emphasis on theater. The group is committed to giving back to the community and donates a portion of ticket sales to the Alzheimer's Association of Northern Nevada.