BROOKINGS — Playing with scissors. Running with scissors. It’s all fun and games until somebody gets an eye poked out. But when “Charlie Cox Runs with Scissors” opens the 23rd season of the Brookings Community Theatre — that’s funny and nobody gets an eye poked out.

A BCT media release in the Oct. 7 Brookings Register describes the play as “the journey of Charlie, a terminally ill man who embarks on a road trip that turns out to be a transformative experience full of surprises, laughter and poignant moments. … With a perfect blend of comedy and drama, the play explores themes of life, love, and the unexpected friendships that can change everything.” Add to that “mortality.”

Jason Soren, a Lake Preston resident who is president of the BCT board of directors, is directing his first production. He noted that he has been assistant director, describing himself as “the man behind the man.” This marks the 41st BCT show that he has been a part of: “doing something.”

“I read the script. … It all just came together in my mind,” Soren explained. “I could see this person wearing this; I could see this prop. I thought now’s the time. It’s a small cast, five characters. I’ll jump in. I’m going to take the plunge. I’m a little stressed. But it’s been a fun experience. I’ve got five great actors: three men, two women. I give them an idea and they run with it. They’re all pros.”

One of those pros may be familiar to Brookings-area residents who follow the local improv scene: TJ Combs.

“I play Wally and his last name is Death,” Combs said.  He’s making his first appearance on the boards in the Fishback Studio Theatre in the Larson Performing Arts Center. “I’m told it’s not supposed to be really a spoiler. His last name is not revealed for awhile but eventually he is revealed to be Wally Death. He is the individual death of the main character, Charlie. Charlie is our protagonist and Wally is kind of the antagonist.” 

Combs is having his first time in theater since his high school days in Brookings in the 1990s. However, he does bring an experience in entertaining audiences: “I have done improv comedy for a chunk of time. So that started in 2015; I was in Houston. I went through a program, if you will, in an improv theater. That was about a year-long process. 

“Then I went out to Los Angeles from there.  I did improv there at the UCB — Upright Citizens Brigade. Lots of fancy people went through that.”

While in California, Combs was employed in information technology. With the coming of COVID-19, he returned to South Dakota in 2020. A native of Brookings, he graduated from high school in 1997.  “Been doing computer stuff for 20-some years. That’s kind of why I do this. Computers are so computery, this gives me the opportunity to do something kind of creative.”

In 2023, Combs began doing some improv comedy gigs here in Brookings, including at Wooden Legs. A fellow improv performer, Jacob Womack — who incidentally has the lead as Charlie Cox — encouraged him to take a shot at a BCT production. He did and got the role of Wally.

“He’s probably the most sarcastic one that will be on stage,” Combs said of his role, without dropping a spoiler as to the plot and theme of the play. “He’s very dutiful to his job as an individual guide to Charlie’s death. That’s Wally.”

The other pros are: Charlie Cox played by Jacob Womack; Kiki by Tiffanie Molengraaf; Nell Todd by Taylor Lauters; and Travis Dunn by Patrick Dunham.

Showtimes are: Oct. 17-19 at 7 p.m. and Oct. 20 at a 2 p.m. matinee.

Tickets are $17 for adults; $15 for students and seniors. They're available online at www.brookingscommunitytheatre.org and in person at Cinema 8 and The Cove.

Contact John Kubal at jkubal@brookingsregister.com.