STOCKTON — Stockton Civic Theatre’s accomplished actor and director Richard Garvin has cast the popular production of “On Golden Pond,” scheduled to open at SCT on May 7.  The play was written by Ernest Thompson in 1979, who later adapted it for the screen in 1981.

The plot focuses on aging couple Ethel and Norman Thayer, who spend each summer at their home on a lake called Golden Pond, and are visited by daughter Chelsea with her fiancé and his son in tow.  Michael Stratford has been cast in the role of Norman, with Sherry Dumos taking the role of Ethel.  Daughter Chelsea will be played by Jennifer Nelson-Burgher. The son’s part is cast with Dalin Nelson, with Rocky Rhoades taking the part of Charlie, and Kari Nelson playing The Operator.  The part of fiancé Bill is still to be cast.

The solitude of Norman and Ethel’s annual pilgrimage to Golden Pond is interrupted when their daughter Chelsea—whom they haven’t seen for years—feels she must be there for Norman’s birthday.  She and her fiancé are on their way to Europe the next day but will be back in a couple of weeks to pick up the fiance’s son.  At first Norman and the kid dislike each other from square one, but gradually develop a touching bond.  It is through the warm relationship between Norman and the boy that the old man and his daughter are at last able to display affection towards each other—the first time they’ve done so in years.

Director Richard Garvin has appeared in numerous SCT productions, including the award-winning “The Producers.”  He directed and won a Best Production Willie Award for “Run For Your Wife.”   Assisting him will be Shawn Carrington, assistant director; Brian Johnson, set designer; Terry Smith, technical director; Liz Kastner-Garvin, costumes; Putsy Hong, props; and Edie Nayer, stage manager.