The Nicholls Players will perform the two-act drama, “Dark of the Moon,” Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. Admission will be $5 for students and $10 for faculty and general public. The play includes about 25 Nicholls students and is an old standard that has been performed since 1945. It has won the Maxwell Anderson award, named after the famous playwright.

The play has been done often, including several times on Broadway. It has been performed by people such as Paul Newman, James Earl Jones, Marsha Mason, Diane Keaton and George C. Scott. It has been directed by big names as well, including world-famous play director Peter Brooke.

The plot is a love story based on the “Ballad of Barbara Allen.” It involves John, a witch-boy who longs to become human so he can marry Barbara Allen, the girl he loves. However, a coven of witches grants him his wish, on the condition that Allen remains true to him.

Blaine Peltier, general studies sophomore from Franklin, plays John, and Katie Anderson, English senior from Thibodaux, plays Barbara Allen.

Other actors include Doug Gill, government senior from Tacoma, Wash., Micheal Dupeire, a 2001 computer and information systems graduate from Thibodaux and Bethanie Jessie, freshman from Avondale.

Directing the play is Stanley Coleman, instructor of performing arts.

Coleman said the season affected his choice for “Dark of the Moon” as the current play.

“Basically, I like to go with the flow of the year, and I think of the fall as the kind of dark and somber. So I sometimes pick plays that I think are kind of dark and somber in the fall to do, yet something still exciting. I don’t want to do just anything,” he said.

Initially, Coleman wanted to direct “The Crucible,” but eventually he decided that “Dark of the Moon” was the ideal choice.

“I was trying to decide between “Dark of the Moon” and “The Crucible,” and “Dark of the Moon” held a lot more fascination with me. It has witches that actually exist in another world. In “The Crucible,” people are being accused of being witches, and they really don’t exist,” he said.

Another deciding factor for settling on the play was its relevance and underlying message of tolerance.

“I like the play because it gives out a message of tolerance and acceptance of people even though they’re different from us, and I think that’s extremely important right now,” Coleman said.

Additional credits include sets designed by Walter Brown, who created a large mountain and several other pieces.

The costumes were created by Bernadette Dugas, instructor of performing arts, who did much of the costuming for plays several years ago and is returning for this show.

Atmospheric music for the production was written by Josh Rowland, history government senior from Thibodaux.

Andy Elliot, English senior from Thibodaux, is responsible for the lighting.

The stage manager is Anna Roberts, general studies junior from Baton Rouge, who has the job of making sure that the actors or in place and the transition from scene to scene is smooth and coordinated.

Roberts said she is very happy with the production.

“It’s a great cast. It’s a very large cast, about 25 or 30 people. They’re all working together very well. They’re all friendly and are getting along. This has been an exceptional crew, they’ve picked it up very quickly. They’re all eager to learn, and they’re all willing to find out as much as they can,” she said.