It's been a few years since Lyceum audiences were able to catch up with the singing Sanders family, but the opportunity to reconnect arrives with "Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming," which runs Sept. 5 through 16.

The show promises to offer all the music, comedy and inspiration audiences have come to expect from the "Smoke on the Mountain" series.

The latest installment takes place in October, 1945, and finds the gospel-singing Sanders Family back together again at Mount Pleasant Baptist Church where Reverend Mervin Oglethorpe is giving his last service.

Mervin has been called to preach in Texas. He's already bought a ten-gallon hat and is preparing to ride into the sunset with his wife June, who is eight months pregnant. The next morning, young Dennis Sanders will take over as Mount Pleasant's pastor.

"Homecoming" joins the Sanders family as they send Mervin and June off in style, with hilarious and touching stories and 25 toe-tapping bluegrass gospel favorites.

For this production, the Lyceum has assembled an experienced cast.

David Hemsley Caldwell will not only serve as the play's director, but he will also appear on stage as Mervin Ogelthorpe. While this might seem a challenge, Caldwell has done it before, directing and starring in productions of "Smoke on the Mountain" and "Sanders Family Christmas" for the La Mirada Theatre in La Mirada, Calif.

If audiences think that actors playing parts of the Sanders family seem like they have been in these roles before, they'd be right. Bobby Taylor, Emily Herring, Clay Arthur and Meyer deLeeuw all starred in a production of "Homecoming" in August at the Totem Pole Playhouse in Fayetteville, Pa. They will reprise the roles of Burl, Vera, Stanley and Dennis, respectively.

The remaining two cast members will likely be familiar faces to those who regularly attend shows in Arrow Rock.

The part of Denise will be played by CoCo Sansoni, who has appeared on stage in Arrow Rock numerous times. Her past credits include the title role in 2002's "Always … Patsy Cline" as well as parts in "Peter Pan," "Cotton Patch Gospel," and "Steel Magnolias."

Leslie Lorusso returns to the Lyceum stage to play the role of June. Lorusso appeared as the Baker's Wife in this season's opener "Into the Woods," and was also seen in last season's production of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

After the run of "Homecoming," the 2007 season will draw to a close with the Tony Award-winning "Children of a Lesser God."

Tickets for these productions are available through the Lyceum's Web site at www.lyceumtheatre.org or by calling the box office at 660-837-3311.

Patrons may call the box office between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays; between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and between 10 a.m.. and 2 p.m. on Sundays. On Wednesdays with no performances, the box office closes at 5 p.m.