The Butler Little Theatre will sign off its 75th anniversary season with the Neil Simon comedy “Come Blow Your Horn.” The show will open May 6 at the theater at One Howard St. under the direction of Robert Craig.

“Come Blow Your Horn” is the story of Buddy and his decision to trade the comforts of home for life in his older brother's bachelor pad. The 21-year-old virgin and his older brother Alan's swinging '60s lifestyle is where the conflict lies. It's a tale of coming of age and role reversal. The show explores whether the grass really is always greener on the other side of the fence.

First-time director, Craig, lives in Butler Township and works for United Plate Glass Co.

“This is my first time directing so I am treading new waters, but I feel I bring an eye for comedic details to the show,” he said.

“Casting it right is the hardest part of the job as a director,” he added.

Craig has been both backstage and on-stage at the Butler Little Theatre for a few years, though.

“I decided it was time to give directing a try, and I'm glad I did,” he said.

Craig sees the show as a coming-of-age piece.

“Throughout the course of the play, the family struggles to understand and adjust to one another, as the two sons begin to grow up, and the parents realize that they are growing old,” he said.

The character of Buddy Baker is being played by Jordan Meals of Center Township, who will be finishing at Butler County Community College and beginning his college internship on May 18 at Disney World.

“Buddy Baker has just turned 21 when the show begins. He is not sure he wants to stay in the family wax fruit business,” said Meals.

“He is young and nervous about girls and going off on his own, but with the guidance of his older brother Alan, Buddy begins to come out of his shell,” he said.

Meals has played roles like this before and feels the transition to Buddy was an easy one. “I'm learning that there are huge differences between this fun light-hearted role and the more serious role I had in the previous show, so transitioning into a lighter role has been kind of nice,” Meals said.

This is not his first Neil Simon show, so the tempo has been easy to adjust to, he said.

Meals said he is a fan of Simon and had worked with Craig in “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and was eager to repeat the opportunity.

Meals last appeared at the BLT as E.K. Hornbeck in “Inherit the Wind” earlier this season.

Meals also has worked with co-star Shannon Donovan before.

Donovan of Penn Township, a student at Point Park University, takes the stage as Peggy Evans this time around.

“Even though Peggy doesn't know how to make a telephone call, she is determined to become a movie star and will seduce men to further her career,” Donovan said of her character.

She has had to nail the New York dialect for this role which has taught her other things as well, she said.

“I am learning about not forcing the humor and just playing the circumstances,” she said.

Playing the role of Mrs. Baker, the boys' mother is Amy Dittman of Butler, a special education instructor at Butler County Vocational Technical School.

“She is a loving mother and wife who tries her best to make sure her family is happy no matter the trials and tribulations she must endure,” said Dittman.

She has captured the essence of her character by drawing experiences with the women of her past.

“The women in my family were always strong and loving. They wanted nothing more than the children they loved to be happy and healthy. They also never hesitated to let any of us know if we were not living up to our potential,” she said.

Dittman auditioned because she said she is a huge fan of the playwright, and though she'd never seen the staged version, she adored the role of Mrs. Baker in the movie.

She last appeared in “Steel Magnolias” as Ouiser Boudreaux.

Also starring in the production are Jeff Carey, Bob Dandoy and Sis Fleming.

WHO: Butler Little TheatreWHAT: “Come Blow Your Horn” by Neil SimonWHEN: May 6 to 14, at 8:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and ThursdayWHERE: One Howard St.TICKETS: $12, for reservations call 724-287-6781 from 7 to 9 p.m. Mondays through FridaysINFO: www.bltgroup.org