Samantha Drohan and Susan Allardice play mother and daughter in the Butler Little Theatre's show "Social Security." Tickets go on sale Thursday, Sept. 22. Casey Bowser/ Submitted Photo

Butler Little Theatre intends to start its 81st season with a story that brings comedy out of universal family experiences through the play “Social Security” by Andrew Bergman.

The cast of six is led by director Don Shearer, who said the group is ready for opening Sept. 30.

“You know when the director is still laughing a week before opening night, you know it’s going to be good,” he said.

“Social Security” follows an art-dealing couple who find their peace upended by family, which includes an aging mother arriving and hitting it off with their best client.

Susan Allardice, of Wexford, plays mother Sophie Greengrass. She said her character’s daughters are unsure of what to do with her throughout the show.

“The show is about family dynamics, especially when dealing with an elderly parent. I’m the elderly parent, and I tend to be demanding, but I don’t think I am,” she said of her character. “I have a definite and strong character.”

Samantha Drohan portrays Barbara Kahn, one half of the art-dealing pair and daughter to Allardice’s character. She said the topics touched on in the show are ones known to many.

“I would say (the show) is about relationships. As we grow older we’re coming to terms with people we love and where we are in our lives. Ironically, it’s a comedy, which I think helps. The themes we cover in the show are universal,” she said.

The cast also includes Rik Medic, Amy Schultz, Jeff Myers and John Henry Steelman.

Shearer and Drohan said they all have meshed well.

“They’ve been doing a good job of diving in and finding the soul of the character,” Shearer, the director, said. “Each is unique in their emotional responses and way of interacting with each other.”

“There’s a real synergy when we’re onstage,” Drohan said.

Allardice and Drohan said they hope the show is one that connects with audiences.

“I hope they enjoy and get a lot of laughs out of it,” Allardice said. “We can all see each other in the dynamic of the characters. I feel like I’m being my mother, and I see in (Drohan’s) character as me with my mother.”

“I hope to God they laugh,” Drohan said about audiences. “They might see themselves in some way and enjoy it on a different level for that reason.”

The show will make people feel like they aren’t alone in their experiences, according to Shearer.

“I hope if people can walk away laughing with us, I think we’ve done our jobs,” he said, “if people can walk away knowing their experiences aren’t unique and that other people go through it.”