Centerstage Theatre will present “The Nerd,” beginning Jan. 24 through Feb. 9 at the theater, which is located at 3200 SW Dash Point Road, Federal Way.

When John Dillon was artistic director of the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre in the early eighties, he had in his company a young actor of exceptional brilliance: Larry Shue.

Shue had written a couple of shorter plays for the company and it was clear to Dillon that the man needed to write a full-length piece. So he commissioned Shue to write “The Nerd,” which Dillon directed in Milwaukee in 1981. The show went on to hugely successful productions in London and New York, and now, along with Shue’s other full-length play, “The Foreigner,” is widely-accepted as one of the greatest contemporary comedies.

The play takes place in the late 1970’s and tells the story of a young architect who is visited by a man he’s never met but who saved his life in Vietnam. The visitor turns out to be an incredibly inept, hopelessly stupid nerd who outstays his welcome with a hilarious vengeance.

Appearing in “The Nerd” are David Gehrman, Jenny Hall, Elinor Gunn, Brandon Brown, Dave Natale, Chip Wood and Shane Collins. “The Nerd” is directed by John Dillon, designed by Michael Ward, sound design by Johanna Melamed and costumes by Rachel Wilkie.

Tickets are $28 for adults; $24 for seniors and military; $10 for 25 years and younger. Special discounts are available for some performances. Information and tickets are available at (253) 661-1444 or www.centerstagetheatre.com.