EVANSTON — For an evening of laughter, poking fun at big, tough deer hunters, and enjoying watching four male actors dance while singing 11 songs throughout the play, community members can see Sagebrush Theatre’s fall production, “Deer Camp,” written by Gene Jurek with music by Doug Spartz and produced in cooperation with Stage Rights. 

Playing the part of the four unsuccessful deer hunters are Vern Hopkin as Moose, Michael J. Richard as Digger, A.J. Lamb as Diesel, and Devin Short as Doogski. The director is Kim Lahm, with Elle Porter as assistant director, Katie Heckert as musical director and choreography by Jayceen Craven Walker.

The four friends go deer hunting together every year but have never shot a deer. Their wives suspect that their husbands really don’t hunt and have banded together and threatened never to let the men go hunting again if they don’t bring home a deer this year. The entire play takes place in a hunting cabin, where the four men spend all of their time drinking beer, nursing hangovers and talking about their wives, food, sex, women in their pasts and confusing family relationships. The only gun they have brought with them is a “parade rifle” that Moose bought. There is a hilarious surprise ending to the play and you have to see it to believe it. 

The play, held at the historic Strand Theater at 1028 Main St., opened on Thursday, Oct. 17, in conjunction with Evanston Main Street Promotion’s Hunters Widows Night. The production continues to be shown on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 18-19, and then again the following Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26. All performances start at 7 p.m. and tickets will be available at the door.