SMITHFIELD -- The Neuse Little Theatre's last show of the 2007-08 season tells a story familiar to many Johnston families.

“Foxfire” is the story of Annie Nations, a 79-year-old woman who faces a heart-wrenching decision when a developer offers to buy the family farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia.

“Everyone’s going to recognize themselves or someone they know,” said Joyce Kilpatrick-Jordan, who plays Annie. “It’s a good family show. The whole show is about a family and their love for each other.”

Kilpatrick-Jordan and Sammy Smith, who plays Annie’s husband Hector, said director Tony Pender insisted that cast members challenge themselves to play believable mountain people who are characters without being caricatures.

“Tony was real specific to say we’re not making fun of people,” Kilpatrick-Jordan said.

Annie and Hector’s son, Dillard, played by Will Huntsberry, is a musician, which required Huntsberry to sharpen his guitar playing. The show has music, and the cast sings, but the show is not a straight-up musical.

“I would say it’s a music drama,” Huntsberry said.

Smith adds that the show does have plenty of humor too and is veering from the original slightly. In this production, younger actors will play the characters in flashback sequences, which wasn’t done on stage or screen before.

This is the first time “Foxfire” has come to The Hut stage, and a friend of the theater, Charles Morgan of South Carolina, suggested the group try “Foxfire” this season.

Hume Cronyn wrote the script and lyrics and performed in the theatrical version of “Foxfire” in 1982. He later reprised his role as Hector Nations in the 1987 television version.

Cronyn’s longtime wife and frequent acting partner, Jessica Tandy, portrayed Annie Nations in both formats, taking home each industry’s top acting award, a Tony and an Emmy.

Foxfire closes out the 34th season of the Neuse Little Theatre. Showtimes are 8 p.m. May 9, 10, 16 and 17, and a special Mother’s Day matinee is at 3 p.m., Sunday, May 11. A reception will follow the Mother’s Day show.

For tickets, call 934-1873. Tickets are $12 in advance or $14 at the door.