The Nuremberg Community Players will kick off their 40th year with weekend performances of “Keeping Up Appearances.”

Under the direction of Todd Statuto, this British television comedy comes to life onstage at the Emerson Theater, 283 Hazle St., Nuremberg.

Special permission was given by the original writer and creator of the television series, Roy Clarke. This is the first time that “Keeping Up Appearances” has been performed in America by a nonprofit community theater.

“I am very excited to start off our 2023 season with such an amazing cast and crew. Everyone has been working very hard getting ready for this weekend. We actually built a full size stage on our current stage for this show which is quite impressive.” Statuto said.

“Keeping Up Appearances” is set in the town’s church theater where a tatty 1930s whodunit murder mystery is being rehearsed. It has Hyacinth barreling around, interacting with all of the other characters from the show, resulting in comic complications.

Diane Rumble portrays Hyacinth Bucket whose primary aims in life are to impress people, particularly of the upper and upper-middle class, and to give the impression that she is of high social standing, despite her fairly average status.

Emmet, Hyacinth’s neighbor, played by Bobby Maso is a producer and director for the local amateur operatic society and the director of this murder mystery Hyacinth is determined to complicate.

Tisha Demshock is in the role of Emmet’s sister Liz. She is weak willed and always fearful of ever telling Hyacinth “no.”

Daisy is Hyacinth’s sister and Onslow her brother-in-law. They are played by Brenda Sachleben and Eric Pugh. Daisy and Onslow are the lower-class relatives Hyacinth is ashamed of, along with her sister Rose, performed by Becky Nenstiel. Rose is another family member who, living with Daisy and Onslow, threaten Hyacinth’s social prestige.

Rounding out the family is Daddy, played by Wayne Seely. Hyacinth loves her father dearly; however, his antics and constant requirement for attention put her social standing at risk. Carl Rumble steps in as the recently divorced Mr. Milson who is a socially awkward computer nerd. Stacey Forsythe is Mrs. Debden, a snobbish charity chairwoman whose charity Hyacinth desperately wants to belong to. Ann Bonacci and Barbara Bartusik are the art directors whose art show is disrupted due to Emmet’s play.

Show dates are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Tickets can be reserved by calling 877-718-7894.