"Arms and the Man," George Bernard Shaw's 19th-century romantic comedy that pokes fun at the dangers of bravado in battle and idealistic notions of love, will be the first production in the Coastal Carolina University Department of Theatre's fall season, running Thursday, Sept. 21, through Saturday, Sept. 30, in the Edwards Theatre. Tickets are $17, with some discounts available.

The performance schedule is as follows:

- Thursday, Sept. 21, and Friday, Sept. 22, at 7:30 p.m.

- Sunday, Sept. 24, at 3 p.m.

- Wednesday, Sept. 27-Friday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m.

- Saturday, Sept. 30, at 3 and 7:30 p.m.

(There will be no performance on Saturday, Sept. 23.)

First produced in 1894 at the Avenue Theatre in London, "Arms and the Man" was one of Shaw's first commercial successes. On a Bulgarian evening in 1885, a chance encounter takes place between a disheveled soldier fleeing the fight and a young woman awaiting the return of her heroic fiancé from the Serbo-Bulgarian War; their relationship evolves in a narrative that displays the futility of war and reveals the hypocrisies of human nature.

The cast includes Izabel Dorst, a senior acting major from Charleston, W.Va., as Raina; Hannah Duncan, a sophomore acting major, from Bay City, Mich., as Catherine Petkoff; Erika Davis, a sophomore physical theatre major from Alpharetta, Ga., as Louka; Briar White, a physical theatre major from Norman, Okla., as Captain Bluntschli; David McInnis, a senior physical theatre major from Sumter, S.C., as Nicola; Carson Matte, a sophomore musical theatre major from Duluth, Ga., as Major Paul Petkoff; and Drake King, a sophomore acting major from Piedmont, S.C., as Major Sergius Saranoff.

"The Department of Theatre has not taken on a piece by Shaw in many seasons and chose to produce this particular play because it works with the youthful artist," said director Monica Bell, associate professor and chair of CCU's Department of Theatre. "The work of Shaw is within reach of contemporary actors and gives the students in the department a foray into classical work. Shaw's humorous take on the absurdities of war seems to be a timely offering, given the nature of our world today."

The production contains content that may be inappropriate for children. Parental discretion is advised. General admission is $17. Senior citizens, OLLI members, CCU alumni, teens and CCU/HGTC faculty and staff are $12. Tickets for children and CCU/HGTC students are $7.

Upcoming CCU Department of Theatre productions include the musical "Violet" in October and Timberlake Wertenbaker's drama "Our Country's Good" in November.

The Edwards Theatre is located in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts at 133 Chanticleer Drive W. on the Conway campus. Parking is available in lots directly adjacent near the back of the building or in J lot near the Singleton building. Visit coastal.edu/aboutccu/campusmap.

For tickets or for more information, call the Wheelwright Box Office at 843-349-ARTS (2787) or visit coastal.edu/culturalarts or ticketreturn.com. The Wheelwright Box Office is located at 108 Spadoni Park Circle on the Conway campus, and hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.