The Royal Players Present BOY HERO: THE STORY OF DAVID O. DODD

In honor of the 170th anniversary of the birth of David O. Dodd in 1846, the Royal Players of the historic Royal Theatre in Benton will produce a new fact-based play about Dodd.

The full-length play, Boy Hero: The Story of David O. Dodd, was written by Dr. Nancy Hendricks and is being directed by Randall Earnest. Sponsored by the Bryant Historical Society, it includes the backstory involving the women in Dodd's life, including his mother, sister, and a young lady he meets at a fateful party in Little Rock.

Boy Hero: The Story of David O. Dodd will be presented from Thursday, October 6 through Sunday, October 9. The Thursdaythrough Saturday performances will begin at 7 p.m., with a Sunday matinee on October 9 at 2 p.m.

The Dodd family had - and has - many family members in Saline County and other locations in central Arkansas, adding to the poignancy of David's story. The Royal Theatre is located at 111 South Market St. in Benton, Arkansas. For ticket information and to reserve, the theatre can be reached at (501) 315-5483. The website is www.theroyalplayers.com. Tickets will be available online. Prices are $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors and active military, $5 for students. The Royal cast follows:

Mother Lydia Dodd: Amber Threlkeld

David O. Dodd: Jacan Earnest

Frank Tomlinson: Dakota Leslie

Minerva Cogburn: Delaney Leslie

Gen. Fredrick Steele: Doug Morris

Senhora Dodd: Lily Matney

Mary Dodge: Abby Windsor

Prv. Olderburg: Mason Newberry

Cpl Clausen: Tim Sopel

Featuring:

Loren Newberry-older Lydia Dodd

Paul Johnson

Isabelle Marchese

Christian Marchese

Mary Craig

Student Director: Tierney Earnest

Produced by: Tim Sopel and Cindy Grisham