Bill Lucas Premieres First Play at Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre

Bill Lucas, a familiar face in North Dakota theater, is stepping back from the stage to watch his work be performed. His comedy, Time Out!, opens Friday at the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theatre in the Hjemkomst Center. This marks the first time Lucas has had his own full-length play produced by the company after about 30 years of involvement.

Lucas, who has directed and acted in numerous productions, is intentionally staying away from the creative process. He entrusted the direction to his friend Jim Hagel and declined to participate in casting or rehearsals. Lucas explained that he did not want to appear as though he was monitoring the director’s work. He plans to attend the show for the first time on opening night, sitting in the audience with the rest of the public.

The play is structured as a play-within-a-play. It follows a high school principal who pressures a reluctant football coach to help stage a production of Romeo and Juliet. The coach calls for a timeout shortly after the curtain rises because he cannot understand the language. The teen characters must then explain the plot and themes while the coach interrupts with questions and rules, such as banning kisses in favor of handshakes. Lucas said he aimed to create humor by colliding these two distinct worlds.

Lucas began writing the script while serving as Ole, a Norwegian farmer character at Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks baseball games. He originated that role in 1996 and played it until 2021. He moved to Arkansas to care for a grandson but returned to Fargo this spring. Upon his return, FMCT Executive Director Judy Lewis encouraged him to submit the script, noting that the company wanted to support local playwrights.

Lewis stated that the theater values local talent and aims to produce a debut play from a local writer once a year. With the company preparing to move to a new downtown space next year, they are producing fewer shows this season. Time Out! is the only full-length show this year that is not a murder mystery dinner theatre or a children’s production.

Lucas has a long history of unexpected moments on stage. In 2017, he was thrust into a leading role in Plaza Suite just one day before opening night after another actor fell ill. He performed with a script in hand. He also improvised an entrance in Dial M for Murder after a set door jammed. More significantly, he survived a stroke on stage in 2012 during a performance of Unnecessary Farce. He finished the show before going to the emergency room.

Lucas has had three strokes since that incident. He admits his memory for lines is not what it used to be, which has shifted his preference toward writing and directing. He said he no longer feels the need to impress audiences and is comfortable acknowledging his limitations. He views his continued involvement in theater as a privilege rather than a requirement for perfection.

The production runs for the weekend, with Lucas observing from the seats. He is not planning to make an entrance or offer advice during the performance. He is simply there to see how the audience reacts to his words.