VALDOSTA, Ga. — Stephenie Austin has played sports for most of her life. She applies the sports philosophy of teamwork to her theatre experiences.

She directs the Theatre Guild Valdosta production of “Suite Surrender” opening this week for a two weekend run at The Dosta Playhouse. “Suite Surrender” is a farce – brisk, broad comedy; people running in and out and in and out again of several doors; mistaken identities; misunderstandings compounded by misunderstandings …

In playwright Michael McKeever’s script, the farce is set in 1942 when two towering Hollywood stars register at the same swank Palm Beach hotel. The divas have long waged a “legendary feud,” according to a Theatre Guild synopsis.

“Everything seems to be in order for their wartime performance … that is, until they are somehow assigned to the same suite. Mistaken identities, overblown egos, double entendres, and a lap dog named Mr. Boodles round out this hilarious riot of a love note to the classic farces of the ‘30s and ‘40s.”

With a real dog playing Mr. Boodles added to the mix, teamwork is necessary to pull off the show, Austin said.

She has gathered a team of Theatre Guild veterans to play the various roles in the first play she has directed.

Austin has assisted with the direction of other Guild productions. She has worked backstage on everything from lights to costumes to sound and almost every other conceivable theatre job. She has performed numerous roles on stage.

Austin has only been participating in Theatre Guild for six years, she said, but she has been involved with 24 productions.

“I love theatre. I love doing it,” Austin said. “It’s like family. You learn about life. You meet people you would not meet otherwise. You spend time with people you might have otherwise never spent time with.”

Given her penchant for performing in comedies, she said she has been satisfied directing. She can help shape characters. She gets to act in demonstrating ideas to actors.

She became hooked on “Suite Surrender” upon reading the script, which made her laugh, she said. With a cast reading and performing the lines, rehearsals have been filled with laughter.

“Suite Surrender” marks a break from tradition for Theatre Guild.

In past years, the Guild or its children’s group Gingerbread Players have presented a Christmas play in December. The Guild opted for something non-holiday this year and to open a week later than the same weekend as the Christmas parade and numerous other area Christmas shows.

Still, “Suite Surrender” has the promise of being a Christmas gift for audiences’ funny bones.

THE CAST: Masin Cribbs, Domenick DeFrank, Josh Robertson, Betty Moon, Keltrice Hardin, Patti Cook Robertson, Brock Gilliard, Jennifer Singleton, Rachel Hansford, Lotto Singleton.  

DIRECTION, PRODUCTION: Stephenie Austin, director; Lu Williams, producer; Clay Lee, assistant director; Haley Radney, stage manager; Grant Brown, set design; Lynnette Kenworthy, lighting design; Danielle Costello, lights & sound; Brock Gilliard, publicity; Christie Jo Mayo, dog handler; Shelley Sweat, photography; Mary Ann Green, Linda Stikkel, Linda Van Horn, Mary Helen Watson, costumes; Lois & Kaitlynn Allbritton, props; Grant Brown, Clay Lee, Masin Cribbs, Stephenie Austin, Josh Robertson, Patti Cook Robertson, John Mitchell, Ellen Mitchell, Jeremy Hardin, Keltrice Hardin, Brock Gilliard, Betty Moon, Andrea Thom, Bob Thom, Rachel Hansford, Jennifer Singleton, Dave Singleton, Phoebe Singleton, Kris Fletcher, Haley Radney, Larry Hansford, Geneva Hansford, Don Boatwright, set construction.

SHOWTIME

Theatre Guild Valdosta presents “Suite Surrender.”

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 8, 9, 10; 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 11; 7:30 p.m., Dec. 15, 16, 17.

Where: The Dosta Playhouse, 122 N. Ashley St.

Reservations, more information: Call (229) 24-STAGE; or visit www.theatreguildvaldosta.com.