Now an aspiring young architect in Terre Haute, Indiana, Willum Cubbert has often told his friends about the debt he owes to Rick Steadman, a fellow ex-GI whom he has never met but who saved his life after he was seriously wounded in Vietnam. He has written to Rick to say that, as long as he is alive, “you will have somebody on Earth who will do anything for you” - so Willum is delighted when Rick shows up unexpectedly at his apartment on the night of his 34th birthday party. But his delight soon fades as it becomes apparent that Rick is a hopeless “nerd” - a bumbling oaf with no social sense, little intelligence and less tact. And Rick stays on and on, his continued presence among Willum and his friends leading to one uproarious incident after another, until the normally placid Willum finds himself contemplating violence - a dire development which, happily, is staved off by the surprising “twist” ending of the play.

The Nerd was first presented by the Milwaukee Repertory Theater (John Dillon, Artistic Director) in April, 1981. It was directed by John Dillon; the set design was by Hugh Landwehr; costume design was by Colleen Muscha; the lighting design was by Dawn Chiang; the properties director was Sandy Struth; the production stage manager was Robert Goodman; and the stage manager was Robin Rumpf. 

Place: 

Terre Haute, Indiana

Time: 

Act 1 - November 4

Act II - Scene 1 - Six days later

Act II - Scene 2 - The following day

The Riverside Players Community Theatre was established as a community theatre hoping to bring high-quality community theatre to Franklin County and surrounding areas. We have presented plays like The Odd Couple, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged, Almost, Maine, and Leaving Iowa, as well as musicals such as Pippin, Assassins, 9 to 5, All Shook Up, [title of show], and Something's Afoot. We are always looking for people who would like to join us to produce theatre and who would like to see theatre. See our Facebook page and our website theriversideplayers.com for more information.

Tim Buchheit - President and Co-Founder

Tara Steffens - Treasurer and Co-Founder

Clayton Smith - Co-Founder

Sarah Buchheit - Secretary

Brian Edler - Vice-President

Adrienne Gonzalez - Board Member

Rocco Gonzalez - Board Member