aharvey@bgdailynews.com/783-3257

Although Western Kentucky University senior Holly Berger works backstage on Kentucky Repertory Theatre’s presentation of “Lombardi,” she feels like she’s learning a lot about onstage work as well.

“I think it’s a great opportunity to see everybody work. You really get to experience firsthand how theater is a well-oiled machine,” said Berger, who is props and costume assistant. “You see the audience react, you can hear them enjoy themselves and be invested in the show. I’m still getting to learn from (the actors), and that’s really nice.”

“Lombardi” runs at 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through July 29 at the theater in Horse Cave. Ticket prices range from $10 to $17.

Berger helps with the show set as well as pre-show, making sure everything is ready.

“I check in on the costumes and, before the show, make sure they have everything they need,” she said.

With a small cast of six, it’s easier to make sure things aren’t lost, Berger said.

“It’s not often, especially with this show. It’s easy to make sure everything is in its proper place,” she said.

Helping backstage is a position in which she has experience – she’s done similar work at WKU, Berger said.

“I’ve never worked on costumes, but I have worked in props several times,” she said. “I’ve worked as an assistant manager. I’m working in the box office at this show and have done this several times at Western as well.”

Donna Freeburn and Christopher Callahan have onstage parts as Marie Lombardi, wife of renowned football coach Vince Lombardi, and journalist Michael McCormick, respectively.

“My character is the only fictional character in the play,” Callahan said.

McCormick is a rookie reporter with Look magazine covering a week with the Green Bay Packers during the team’s 1965 season. McCormick, who shares the same hometown as Lombardi, is looking for his big break, said Callahan, a WKU senior.

“It’s his first big story. He’s a young guy, 29,” he said. “He’s looking for his place in the world of reporting. I can relate to Michael because he’s a young guy coming up in the world.”

Callahan described McCormick as “very confident.”

“Lombardi tells him to stay away from certain players, but he really doesn’t want to listen to him,” he said. “In the long run, it works for his betterment. He sticks to his guns, and it works for him.”

Freeburn sees Marie Lombardi as her husband’s counterpart.

“For all his bluster and rage, she can give it back to him,” she said. “She can confide in him and loves and cares for him, but she can go toe-to-toe with him.”

Freeburn, a part-time faculty member in WKU’s theater department, said the part of Marie has been fun to play.

“You can identify what people go through. You yourself may not deal with it the same way in your personal life,” she said. “Desperation, love – we all share these things in everyday life.”

Freeburn didn’t get long to study the script. When the actress who was supposed to play Marie couldn’t, the director contacted Freeburn to see if she would take on the part.

“The director had to recast. A day and a half before rehearsal started, I got a call,” she said. “I had worked at the theater nine seasons before. It’s a wonderful cast. I love the script.”

Callahan said he has enjoyed working with the show’s “coast-to-coast casting.”

“We got actors from New York to Los Angeles,” he said. “It’s great for everybody.”

— For more information or tickets, call 270-786-3177 or visit www.kentuckyrep.org.