DANBURY, CONN. —With the holiday season right around the corner, soon we’ll be seeing Salvation Army bell-ringers in front of many local retailers. But have you given any thought to where all the coins in those kettles come from, where the money goes — or the givers’ motivation? George Bernard Shaw has, and the Western Connecticut State University department of theatre arts will stage the famed playwright’s “Major Barbara” in October.

First produced at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 1905, “Major Barbara” examines the moral dilemma faced by an officer in the Salvation Army when an arms dealer (who happens to be her father) offers a significant amount of money to the organization. Is tainted money for a good cause ever acceptable? And does taking the moral high ground really help those in need?

WCSU will stage “Major Barbara” for two weekends in October. Performances will be Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 10 – 14, 2012; and Friday and Saturday, Oct. 19 and 20, 2012, in the Berkshire Theatre in Berkshire Hall on the university’s Midtown campus, 181 White St. in Danbury. The public is invited. Performances will be at 7 p.m. on Opening Night, Wednesday, Oct. 10, and High School Night, Thursday, Oct. 11. The show will be at 8 p.m. all other evenings. There will be matinee performances at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 13 and 14, and Saturday, Oct. 20. Tickets will be $22.50 for adults, and $17.50 for seniors and students, plus ticketing fees.

The WCSU cast will include Casey Perruzzi, of Stratford, as Lady Britomart Undershaft; Anthony Paparello, of Bristol, as Stephen Undershaft; Casey Miko, of Stratford, as Barbara Undershaft; Brianna Bowman, of Bethel, as Sarah Undershaft; Jim O’Reilly, of Redding, as Adolphus Cusins; Austin Charles, of Westbrook, as Charles Lomax; Sean Spencer, of Westbrook, as Andrew Undershaft; Jim Goggin, of Naugatuck, as Morrison; Nick Raines, of Brookfield, as Bronterre O’Brien Price; Corinne Marshall, of Prospect, as Romola Mitchens; Brianna Bagley, of Stafford Springs, as Jenny Hill; Sean Pultz, of Stamford, as Peter Shirley; Patrick Loglisci, of Stamford, as Bill Walker; Hannah Bellows, of Waterbury, as Mrs. Baines; Brendon Boyd, of Worcester, Mass., as Foreman Bilton; Frankie Ann Carcille, of Mystic, and Nicole Currier, of Torrington, as Maids; Mark Joy, of Winsted, and Matthew Grasso, of Bethel, as Factory Workers; Jenna Waltuch, of Bethel, Austin Carnes, of Southbury, and Misha Schmidt, of Stamford, as Salvationists.

The crew will include Pam McDaniel as director, Sal Trapani and McDaniel as producers, Frank Herbert as technical director, Elizabeth Popiel as set designer, Lisa Renee Jordan as costume designer, Scott Cally as lighting designer, Kathryn Armstrong as sound designer and Rhys Kiernan as projections designer.

For tickets or more information, call the Box Office at (203) 837-TIXX or go to www.wcsu.edu/tickets.

Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities.