Michelle Stephens, coordinator of the Department of Speech and Theatre at Richland Community College, has enhanced the Richland theater program by doing more advertising and offering more chances for community involvement with their plays.

She has begun the changes, starting with the season's first production "The Foreigner," which plays Nov. 8-11 and 15-18 in the Shilling Auditorium in Richland Community College in Decatur.

"We have changed the way we do everything," Stephens said, "from advertising all the way down to the box office and ushers."

Stephens said they have begun advertising more, including joint advertisements with Theatre 7, Decatur's community theater. She added the Decatur Area Arts Council's mailing list has helped increase their own, and they have changed their lobby setup.

A corporate night will be offered for the play's sponsors, and in an effort to reach out to the community, a meet-and-greet with the actors will be open to the public after the Nov. 11 show.

Joe Wheeler, who has participated in past Richland productions, has noticed the change.

"We had very good publicity this year," he said. "It seems it's a step higher than previous productions.

"We want to show the development of the theater group. I know the audience is really going to love it."

"I'm trying to make us competitive with other colleges with healthy theater," Stephens said. "Our real goal is to especially get people of the community out here to see what we're doing. I think they'll be surprised.

"This particular season is all about visibility."

The light-hearted comedy production of "The Foreigner" was chosen to appeal to a wide audience, Stephens said.

"The Foreigner" is about two British men, Charlie and Froggy, who travel to a lodge in Georgia, where the people are too friendly and talkative for Charlie's tastes.

Charlie is painfully shy, so Froggy tells the people at the lodge that Charlie is from an exotic country and cannot speak English. With his inability to communicate, Charlie finds out secrets amongst the residents of the lodge.

James Turner, who plays Charlie, talked about his character.

"In the play, he's really boring, but throughout, he develops a personality that he longs for," he said.

"The characters are so exaggerated and generalized that you can't help but have a good time," said Amanda Keck, who plays Catherine Simms - the southern belle, ex-debutante who is engaged to Rev. David Marshall Lee, played by Wheeler.

Danny Cox plays Ellard, which is the same role he played 20 years ago with Theatre 7's production of the play.

"As you're watching it, you know what's going on" though the characters may not know, Cox said, describing the play as greatly written with lots of laughs. "Every line that is delivered in Act I has a counterpart in Act II that makes it all the more funny."

He said even when "The Foreigner" is flawed, it still makes for great entertainment.

"Even a bad 'Foreigner' is a good 'Foreigner'," Cox said, "and we have a great one."

WHAT: "The Foreigner"

WHEN: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 8-10 and 15-17; and 3 p.m., Nov. 11 and 18

WHERE: Schilling Auditorium, Richland Community College, Decatur

TICKETS: $10 for general public and $7 for students and seniors; for tickets, call 875-7211 ext. 6888, or send an e-mail to theatre@richland.edu.

ON THE WEB: www.richland.edu/shilling/theatre

EXTRA: For shows Nov. 8-11, bring a non-perishable food item for the Performing Arts Workshop food drive and receive $1 off your ticket price. For shows Nov. 15-18, bring a new toy for the Black Student Association toy drive and receive $1 off.

CAST: Robert Bruer (Froggy LeSueur); James Turner (Charlie Baker); Danny Cox (Ellard Simms); Amanda Keck (Catherine Simms); Joe Wheeler (Rev. David Marshall Lee); Casey Peek (Betty Meeks); and Austin Hourigan (Owen Musser). Director is Michelle Stephens.

Alicia Spates can be reached at aspates@herald-review.com or 421-6986.