BATESVILLE — What do a snake-loving elderly man who refuses to pay income taxes, a playwright/ painter, an aspiring ballet dancer/candy chef, a xylophone playing mask-maker/printer, an illegal fireworks manufacturer, a discus-throwing model, a recently engaged secretary, a Russian immigrant ballet master and a sassy maid and her dim-witted boyfriend have in common?

These and other just as eccentric characters populate the Oldenburg Academy Drama Club’s upcoming theatrical production, “You Can’t Take It With You,” which will be presented March 9-10 at 7 p.m. in the OA auditorium.

Tickets, which may be purchased at the door on show nights, are $7 for adults and $5 for ages 18 and under, reports Rebecca Boyle, marketing communications coordinator.

This Pulitzer Prize- winning play, written by Moss Hart and George Kaufman, centers around two love-struck young people, played by juniors Maria Keck and Broderick Witt, who are caught between their very different families.

The young lady, Alice Sycamore, comes from a hopelessly unconventional extended family, and the young man, Tony Kirby, is from a straight-laced, wealthy family.

Cultures clash, hilariously, when Tony’s family arrives for dinner at the Sycamores one day early!

Although the play was first produced in 1936, its message is surprisingly relevant to today’s audiences. Taxes, politics, immigration, government interference and finding the American Dream are just a few of the play’s themes. Theater goers are sure to find a bit of themselves, or someone they recognize, in the many comic characters and subplots.

Junior Quincy Shenk leads the cast by playing Alice’s Grandpa, Martin Vanderhof, the wackily wise family patriarch. Junior Theresa Brunsman plays Martin’s daughter, playwright Penny Sycamore.

Junior Laurel Kelnhofer is Essie Carmichael, Alice’s sister and budding ballerina.

Penny’s fireworks manufacturing husband, Paul, is played by freshman Chris Jarman, and Essie’s xylophone playing husband, Ed, is played by freshman Jeremy Kelnhofer.

Junior Chris Hockaden portrays the iceman-turned pyro technician, Mr. De Pinna. Junior John Batterton depicts the Russian immigrant ballet master, Boris Kolenkhov.

The family maid, Rheba, played by sophomore Gabrielle Mungcal, and her daffy boyfriend, Donald, performed by freshman Luke Wukusick, complete Alice’s family. Sophomore Peter Harrah plays Tony’s Wall Street banker father, Anthony Kirby, and junior Natalie Pottschmidt portrays his ultra conservative mother, Miriam.

Rounding out the cast are senior Ellen Buening, junior Josh Knapp and freshmen Julia Cummins and Brian Ulrich, who play government agents; sophomore Sarah Billingsley, has-been actress Miss Wellington; sophomore Rachel Billingsley, the Grand Duchess Olga Katrina; and freshman Lizzy Puttman, Wilma C. Henderson, tax collector.

Junior Samantha Jarman is the show’s student director, a first for her and the drama club.

Other backstage crew members include juniors Natasha Hockaden, Emily Ulrich and Claire McKamey; sophomore Melia Ficarra; and freshmen Courtney Eckstein, Elizabeth Harrah, LeAnn Bannigan, Clair Buening and Ryley Stonebraker.