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The curtain will rise in six days. (And counting)

"Darling, she just burst into the room and her dress fell off!"

You heard right: Someone loses her dress. A few people lose their trousers. And almost everyone misplaces the sardines.

Janesville Little Theatre is putting on “Noises Off,” a play within a play about a small theater company putting on a British bedroom comedy. There’s lots of door opening, door closing and jumbled lines. There are also a lot of laughs.

Off the Clock bloggers Ann Marie Ames and I each have roles in the show. It’s been interesting balancing work shifts and rehearsals. It’s also been interesting trying not to recite lines to one another all the time. (We haven’t been very successful.)

This is my second production in Janesville—the first one also was a Janesville Little Theatre show, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” with former Off the Clock members Stacy Vogel and Adam Bergstrom. I’m so excited to be back on the stage. Sometimes I wish I hadn’t auditioned because my free time has been so limited, but most of the time, I’m really glad I did.

I’ve been in theater before: I had a part in “The Vagina Monologues” in college, and I had several roles in “The Laramie Project,” a story about a theater company recounting the Matthew Shepard story, in high school. I also played the Fairy Godmother in “Cinderella” in elementary school. This is old hat for me. That doesn’t mean, of course, that it still isn’t hard work and I still don’t get nervous or have trouble memorizing my lines.

But this is Ann Marie’s first theater production. Ever...

(Ann Marie jumping into the blog, here ...)

I've done readers theater before. And I've done lots of improv comedy shows. But this is my first play. Doing local theater is one of those things "I've Always Wanted to Do." After next weekend, I'll be able to check it off the list.

Will I do it again? Probably. It takes up time, like Kayla said. But it's time well worth it.

I've learned a thing or two. And it's been hilarious. Every time Kayla walks on scene during rehearsal, I crack up.

Part of that is because it's Kayla, and she makes me laugh. That's a good thing, since between work and rehearsal, we're next to each other for 50 hours a week.

But it also has a lot to do with the hilarious script we're working on.

You should come and see us! The details are below.

Oh yeah, and let us just say one more thing: “Sardines!”

IF YOU GO

What: Janesville Little Theatre production of “Noises Off”

When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18, to Saturday, Feb. 20, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21.

Where: Janesville Performing Arts Center, 408 S. Main St., Janesville.

Tickets: $12 for adults, $6 for students.