FARMINGTON – Theatre UMF will present Scott McPherson’s 1991 award-winning play, “Marvin’s Room,” for its fall production.

The play is a humorous account of a woman’s commitment to loving others first and her belief that this has made her life rich, even as she faces her death.

The play opens at 7:30 Thursday, Oct. 21, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 22 and 23, and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday, Oct. 24, in Alumni Theatre.

The play is about one family, focusing on Bessie, the oldest daughter who has spent her life caring for others. Unexpectedly diagnosed with a serious illness and also caring for her father, who has Alzheimer’s, she must now turn to her estranged sister, her institutionalized nephew and her aunt for help.

Director Peter Simmel, an associate professor of theater, said, “This is a play almost everyone can relate to in their life. Each generation must decide what it’s going to do with aging and sickly parents and relatives. The decisions each makes has real emotional consequences.”

Simmel said, “This is a real actor’s and director’s dream play. … For a director the play involves working to help actors connect with characters whose ages range from 17 to 70.”

Playing Bessie is Amalia Marenberg. Her two in-house patients are her 70-year-old Aunt Ruth, played by Susanne Gerry, and Marvin, the father, played by Ronald Martz. Her somewhat estranged sister Lee is played by Megan Curry and Lee’s two sons are played by Gavin Pickering and Levi Galloway. Other cast members are Bessie’s doctor, played by Scott Friedstein; Dr. Charlotte, Hank’s psychiatrist, played by Jacqui Casiano; and a retirement home director played by Amy Carsten.

Tickets may be reserved by calling the box office, 778-7465. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3.50 for seniors, $5 for students, and free to UMF students with an ID.