SOUTH PORTLAND — The Portland Players will present the haunting classic, “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” Jan. 25 to Feb. 10, at 420 Cottage Road.

The sole straight play of the Portland Players 2018-19 season, Dale Wasserman’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” is based on the novel by Ken Kesey. When Randle P. McMurphy (Players newcomer Jesse Seward) is transferred to the state mental institution, he thinks it will be more lenient than the prison system; however, the disciplinarian, Nurse Ratched (Jessica Libby), runs the ward with an iron fist. Thus begins an epic battle of wills that will forever change the lives of everyone in the ward.

Although this is director Cullen Burke’s Portland Players mainstage directorial debut, he is no stranger to the Portland Players. Most recently Burke played John Proctor in “The Crucible,” directed the Portland Players Summer Scene Study program and served on the Portland Players board of trustees.

The production team includes Megan Bremermann, assistant director/costumes; Franklin Juarez, set; Jason “Chachi” Robinson, light;, Sam Rinaldi, sound; Michele Danois, props; Joanna Chantal, stage manager/producer; and Giselle “Gigi” Paquette, producer.

The cast includes several returning actors: Ricky Brewster as Billy, Joanna Clarke as Candy Starr, John Craford as Ruckly, Jessica Libby as Nurse Ratched, Karl Livonius as aide Williams; Benn May as Chief Bromden; Logan Merrithew as Martini, Scott Patashnik as Dale Harding, Bob Pettee as Spivey, Hannah Perry as nurse Flinn/Sandra, and newcomers Tom Call as aide Warren, Rook Hine as Scanlon, John Dalton Logan as Cheswick, James Lehr as aide Turkle, and Jesse Seward as McMurphy.

Show times are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are available online or by calling 207-799-7337.

Sunday, Jan. 27, is Student Sunday. All student/child tickets to the 2:30pm matinee performance are $6.

An American Sign Language interpreted performance will be presented at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 3.

Ticket prices are $20 adults, $18 senior citizens, $15 students and children. For more information, visit portlandplayers.org.

Rehearsing a scene from The Portland Players’ production of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” are, from left, John Dalton Logan, Ricky Brewster, Logan Merrithew, Jessica Libby, Jesse Seward, Scott Patashnik and Rook Hine. (Photo by Kristen Peters)