The Promise Players theater group will present its fall play, "Baggage Claim," at Lampeter Church of the Brethren, 1900 Lampeter Road, Lancaster. Shows will be held Thursdays through Sundays, Nov. 7 to 10 and 14 to 17. The Thursday and Friday shows will begin at 7:30 p.m., Saturday shows will include a 2:30 p.m. matinee and a 7:30 p.m. show and both weekends will wrap up with a Sunday show at 5 p.m.

Tickets may be purchased at the door or reserved online for a suggested minimum donation for adults and a discounted rate for children 12 years old and younger. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit Restart Training Center, a faith-based residential program for men who are recovering from addiction.

"Baggage Claim" is a modern-day parable about the D'Baquel family and their vacation gone awry. The family's members encounter a slew of mishaps and wacky encounters during their stay at a comically chaotic bed-and-breakfast, including the bellhop repeatedly tossing the D'Baquels' luggage off a cliff. Although the play invites audience members to laugh at its absurdity, the tone gradually becomes more serious as the story explores the personal struggles of each family member. "The show has a good, strong message about giving up your burdens," said the play's director, Dorothy Smith. "And who can take your burdens but Jesus?"

Smith, who has actively been involved with the Promise Players as an actor and director for about 12 years, said the theater group performed "Baggage Claim" several years ago. The first show was well received by audiences, and Smith was a member of the cast. "I've really enjoyed both being on and off stage over the years," Smith added. "It's a really friendly and loving atmosphere to work in."

Although the Promise Players is based in Strasburg and typically hosts shows at Lampeter Church of the Brethren, its cast and crew comprises members of churches located in other parts of the county. Smith lives in Landisville, and she attends church in East Petersburg. "Our cast comes from a wide variety of backgrounds," Smith said. "There are a lot of different churches represented with us, but it feels really good to be able to find common ground where you come into agreement about what's important to tell our audience."

For more information or to reserve a ticket for the show, visit https://promiseplayers.org.