DOWAGIAC — Inside the Beckwith Theatre on a Thursday night, a cast of people hurried and clamored about attempting to get everything prior to their rehearsal call time.

Director Larry Nielsen stands below the stage directing actors as they file in around the “lifeless” body of the show’s patriarch.

“Everyone ready?” asked Nielsen, of Benton Harbor. “Don’t forget to have fun.”

The Beckwith Theatre, 100 New York Ave., Dowagiac, will be hosting the comedy play “Dearly Departed” for two weekends in April. The shows will take place at 7:30 p.m. on April 6, 7, 13 and 14 and at 2 p.m. on April 8 and 14. Tickets to the play are $15. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or by calling (269) 782-7653 to reserve seats.

The comedy follows a southern family after the death of the family’s patriarch. Though the remaining family members attempt to pull themselves together for the burial, throughout the play, the family’s problems keep cropping up and overshadowing the occasion.

Despite the relatively solemn subject material, the play is both family-friendly and laugh-out-loud funny, Nielsen said.

“It’s a comedy of all sorts of situations,” Nielsen said. “It’s a comedy you will laugh at, laugh with and care about the characters.”

Though he hails from Benton Harbor, Nielsen said he was excited to direct “Dearly Departed” at the Beckwith, mostly due to the fact that the themes and characters resonated with him.

“The characters speak to me. I know some of those people,” Nielsen said. “The themes of family and that love will triumph over chaos, and there is plenty of chaos in this play, are important and universal.”

Nielsen isn’t the only one excited to be participating in the play that opens this weekend. Texas Brooks, Holly Brooks and Pennie Hammond are all first-time actors working on the play.

For Texas, 13, and Holly, 40, participating in the play was something fun for the mother and daughter to do together.

“I wanted to put myself out there,” Holly said. “And it’s been funny doing this with [Texas].”

For Hammond, it was a chance to get back on the stage for the first time since her teen years.

“I used to do high school plays and things and always enjoyed it,” Hammond said. “Acting is a lot different from the things I do in my spare time like volunteering. This is a lot of fun.”

All three said that the humorous nature of the play is what drew them to it.

“It is hilarious watching the rest of the cast rehearse; I nearly peed laughing,” Hammond said. “It is very funny.”

The actors and Nielsen said they hope the public turns out to see “Dearly Departed,” as they feel that anyone who sees it will enjoy themselves.

“It’s a feel-good play,” Nielsen said. “It really is something anyone can enjoy and laugh with.”