“Drinking Habits,” Sun City Players Community Theater’s first production this season, is a farcical play by Tom Smith about two nuns who are covertly making wine to keep their convent open. The play is full of mistaken identities, accusations and romances. The plot includes secret winemaking, undercover reporters, spilled secrets and paranoia.

As was announced in a previous theater article, the director of “Drinking Habits” is Greg Engstrom, who together with the assistant director/program manager, are the backbone of the production team. They, in turn, work with a design team that includes the stage manager, set, lighting, and sound design technicians.

Tom Swenson sees his role as assistant director/program manager as the person who creates an atmosphere where everyone in the cast and crew feels safe, taken care of and respected.

“My directing consists largely of keeping track of the blocking and other suggestions that the Director has given to the actors,” said Swenson.

As part of his program manager, aka producer role, he is responsible for making happen all aspects of the production beyond directing. That includes setting a budget, purchasing items, and coordinating with Recreation Centers of Sun City.

Although this will be Swenson’s first stab as assistant director/program manager in a mainstage show, he is no stranger to Sun City Players. During the past six years, he has acted in “Broadway on 107th Avenue,” “Suite Surrender,” “The Curious Savage” and “Old Hams.” In fact, in 2018, Greg Engstrom directed Swenson in “Making God Laugh,” which was his first role in Sun City. Swenson has also performed as Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain in different venues.

Swenson is president of Sun City Players Community Theater. Once his three-year term ends in December, he would like to stay involved with coordinating props for future shows. His primary goal is to direct a mainstage play for the 2025-26 season.

Two of the characters in “Drinking Habits” are Paul and Sally, the newspaper reporters who go undercover at the convent. Paul is an orphan who is a good writer, but sometimes lets his conscience get in the way of his reporting. Sally, an award-winning newspaper reporter, used to be engaged to Paul, but left him standing at the altar on their wedding day to cover an important story.

Paul will be played by John Paul (JP) Reaves, who will be making his acting debut with Sun City Players. Reaves feels he has an uncanny likeness to his character. According to Reaves, “Paul loves and wants to be with Sally, his former fiancée. JP loves and wants to be with his wife, Elizabeth. Sally wants to spy on nuns, while Elizabeth wants to act. Paul fears nuns. JP fears speaking on stage.”

Reaves was attracted to theater at the University of Arizona in 1973 when he took a dance class under the condition that he sign up to be a drama major. After completing many dance classes and performing in one play, he quit college to become a professional ballet dancer with different companies in Tucson, New Mexico, Atlanta and Pittsburgh. He later performed for stage shows in Nevada and portrayed Bobby in a production of “A Chorus Line” with the cast from MGM Reno. Reaves also was a stuntman and a sea captain in the pirate show at Treasure Island Hotel.

Reaves is very active in Sun City Players Reader’s Theater Ensemble, has helped in other productions as a prop’s assistant and volunteers as an usher so he can see the shows for free.

The role of Sally will be performed by veteran actor Marilyn Moore.

“I love the character of Sally, who is a strong woman with goals. She is sassy, sarcastic, flirty, funny, and tough. Yet, under the surface, she is very caring,” said Moore, adding “It is so great to be in a show with such fun and talented actors.”

In addition to her relevant life experiences, Moore’s participation in the theater spans decades. Graduating with a bachelor of arts in theater communications from the University of Minnesota, she has performed at several venues in the Minneapolis area, including the Tyrone Guthrie Theater and the Chanhassen Dinner Theater.

Moore, a member of Players for seven years, has appeared in “Broadway on 107th Avenue,” “Don’t Talk to the Actors” and “The Curious Savage.” Late last year, she performed in “The Mousetrap” at the Ghostlight Theater in Sun City West. Besides her acting roles, Moore has volunteered as an usher for several productions.

Performance dates are 7 p.m. Nov. 15, 22 and 23 and 2 p.m. Nov. 16, 17, and 24 at Mountain View Recreation Center, 9749 N. 107th Ave. For complete ticket information, visit suncityplayers.org. The spring play will be the 1940’s “Radio Hour,” debuting the weekends of March 14-16 and March 21-23, 2025. Season tickets for both shows are $25, while single tickets are $15. Tickets at the door for the day of performance are $20. Purchase tickets in person at Fairway Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 11-14 and Nov. 18-21.