Paul Farinosi of Madison portrays Nick in “Over the River & Through the Woods.” (CONTRIBUTED)

HUNTSVILLE, MADISON – Theatre Huntsville is finalizing rehearsals for “Over the River & Through the Woods,” a comedy by Joe DiPietro.

Director Sam Marsh describes the play as a “heartwarming story of love, family, career … and Sunday dinner.” The play focuses on Nick, an Italian-American bachelor from Hoboken, N.J. His parents have retired to Florida.

Nick always joins his grandparents Frank, Aida, Nunzio and Emma for Sunday dinner. Emotions rise when Nick is offered his dream job in Seattle.

“Younger people can relate to career moves versus family. Older audiences can relate to younger family moving away and changing closely held family traditions,” Marsh said.

Paul Farinosi of Madison portrays Nick; Farinosi also ‘acts’ as Rufus, mascot for the Huntsville Havoc. Chuck Puckett (Frank) of Decatur is a veteran of North Alabama theatre.

Gaylen Pugh of Madison has connected with her character Aida. Occasionally, “a role appropriate for my age comes along that touches my heart both as a parent and as an adult child of aging parents,” Pugh said. “‘Over the River’ is such a vehicle — warm, funny and so identifiable.”

The audience ‘knows’ these characters, Pugh said. “Maybe we are these people.” Would Pugh like her character in real life? “Definitely. She’s a heart-of-gold kind of person in a large, loud, yet loving Italian family.”

Pugh also appreciates working “with a fine cast and crew under the direction of one of Huntsville finest directors, Sam Marsh.”

Other cast members are Fred Tamm-Daniels (Nunzio), Linda Meigs (Emma) and Raye Carter (Caitlan). Gina White is assistant director, Wanda Whitmer is producer and Karl King technical director.

Show dates are Nov. 14-15 and 20-22 at 7:30 p.m., along with Nov. 16 and 22 at 2 p.m. in the Von Braun Center Playhouse.

Tickets are $18 for adults or $15 for students, senior citizens 65 years and older and active military personnel. To purchase tickets, visit yourseatiswaiting.org.

For more information, call 256-536-0807, email to theatrehsv@bellsouth.net or visit Facebook/Theatre Huntsville.