Carpenter Square Theatre concludes its 37th Season with “Meteor Shower,” an uproarious new comedy by that “wild and crazy guy,” Steve Martin. Set in Ojai, California during the Perseid Meteor Shower of 1993, it performs July 9-31, 2021 at the theater located at 800 W. Main in downtown Oklahoma City.

“Meteor Shower” opens with Corky making preparations for a cocktail party while husband Norm tries to answer Jeopardy questions. They are excited to host the Newmans to watch a once-in-a-lifetime meteor shower at their home away from the lights of the big city. Also, they are hoping to make good social and business connections. As the conversation gets rolling, it becomes clear that their visitors are not your typical guests. Over the course of a crazy, starlit evening, the wildly unexpected occurs. The couples begin to flirt and insanity reigns. Martin, using his trademark absurdist humor, bends the fluid nature of time and reality to create a surprising and unforgettably funny new play, which some have described as “Groundhog Day” meets “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”

While Steve Martin is best known as a comedian, film actor, and writer-producer, he has penned several plays, several of which Carpenter Square has produced. Previously, the theater has staged his “Picasso at the Lapin Agile” and “The Underpants,” and area theatergoers may have also seen his musical, “Bright Star.” In college, he studied philosophy and later switched his major to theater. In recent years, Martin has concentrated more on his writing and music, often playing banjo with bluegrass bands, rather than acting or stand-up comedy. In 2007, he published a memoir, ”Born Standing Up,” which Time magazine named as one of the Top 10 Nonfiction Books of 2007. Other accolades include five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and an Honorary Academy Award in 2013. He has also received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the Kennedy Center Honors, and an AFI Life Achievement Award. In 2004, Comedy Central ranked Martin at sixth place in a list of the 100 greatest stand-up comics.

Director Rhonda Clark guides a cast of four, which includes Mikie Gillmore and Ed Spinelli as the unsuspecting party hosts, with Lilli Bassett and Terry Veal playing their oddball guests for meteor watching. Laurie Blankenship serves as stage manager. Ben Hall is in charge of the set, and Jay C. Schardt is the lighting designer. Rhonda Clark also is the costume designer.

“Meteor Shower” is rated R. Specific performance dates and times over four weeks are: 8 p.m. July 9-10 and 16-17; 7:30 p.m. July 22, 8 p.m. July 23-24, and 2:00 p.m. July 25; and 7:30 p.m. July 29 and 8:00 p.m. July 30-31.

The production is supported in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Inasmuch Foundation, Kirkpatrick Family Fund, and Allied Arts. Season Sponsors include Mel and Cindy Ables, Ed and Janet Bucknell, Tom and Linda Cowley, Rita Hejny, Ric and Jenny Penner, the Slater Family Fund, and Ed and Jennifer Spinelli. Costume Sponsors for “Meteor Shower” are Ed & Vivian Hasbrook. Cast Sponsors are Mel & Cindy Ables, and Ticket Sponsors are Lana Henson, Karl Semtner, John Schenberg, and Joseph and Trina Steil.

Regular adult tickets are $30 with $25 tickets available for seniors aged 62 or more, military, and groups of ten or more. Educator tickets are $10 and students are only $5. Two-for-one tickets may be purchased when presenting the Allied Arts City Card or when attending Thursday evening performances. Reservations are highly recommended for the intimate theater. All patrons are asked to wear masks when out of their seats inside the theater. For tickets, call 405-232-6500 or email csttix@coxinet.net. Visit www.carpentersquare.com for more information.