A "spirited," timeless classic set in the 1940's, Heaven Can Wait, written by Harry Segall, is the story of man who meets death too soon, but get gets a second chance at life...in a new body, of course.

Having being "collected" 60 years too early for his appointment in Heaven, Joe Pendleton, played by sophomore Tyler Wright, arrives at the heavenly portal irritated and impatient for the error to be corrected. Messenger 7013, played by junior Allegra Scott, was overzealous in her new job collecting souls and plucked Joe from an airplane seconds before it crashed in order to "spare him indescribable agony."

The matter is brought to the attention of Ms. Jordan, played by senior Emma Cavcey, who takes on the task of returning Joe to earth to live out the rest of his years. Since his manager had his body cremated, Joe cannot return to his former body. Finding a suitable body for Joe's preferences is a challenge since Joe was a prize fighter who kept his body "in the pink" and was destined to be the world's next pugilisticchampion. Joe, naturally, wants to continue his career. Finally, after 130 stops, Joe agrees to temporarily enter the body of a wealthy financier named Jonathan Farnsworth in order to help out a young lady named Bette Logan, played by junior Kate Robison.

As the transfer into Mr. Farnsworth takes place, it comes as quite a shock to the two lovebirds, Julia Farnsworth, played by sophomore Hannah Carmichael, and Tony Abbott, played by senior Ben Hillin, since they plotted and carried out Farnsworth's murder - drowning him in the bathtub. Not only is it a shock to see him alive, but once Joe takes over the body he is a much kinder and more generous Farnsworth. His attempts to "make restitution" do not settle very well with the soul of Farnsworth; he storms the heavens and demands that Joe leave.

In the meantime, Joe has contacted his old trainer, Max Levene, played by senior Kyle Meinhart, and, after a very comical scene, is eventually able to convince him that he is in fact Joe. With the help of Ms. Jordan and Max, Joe tries to train for the championship boxing career he began in his former body, while undoing Farnsworth's wrong-doings before Mrs. Farnsworth can murder him...again.

Heaven Can Wait will be performed November 5, 6, and 7 at 7:30 pm in the Vance Brand Civic Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $6 (adults) and $4 (students/seniors); prices at the door are $7 for adults and $5 for seniors and students. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 303-651-0401. is the original play which was later the basis for the films Here Comes Mr. Jordan in 1941, Heaven Can Wait in 1978 and Down to Earth in 2001.