Jeanine Rees was looking forward to a trip to “Middletown,” but she didn’t expect it to be in the director’s chair.

When the Will Eno play first was announced for Hopewell Theatre’s 2024-25 season, retired Youngstown State University theater professor Matthew Mazuroski was slated to direct it.

“A couple years ago, I was in another Will Eno play at the (Youngtown) Playhouse,” Rees said. “I was in ‘The Flu Season,’ and Maz was in it and his wife, Pat (Foltz) directed it. It was my first experience with Will Eno, and I loved it. It was so much fun to do.”

Mazuroski and Foltz talked about wanting to do Eno’s “Middletown,” and Rees suggested Hopewell. She also offered to take on whatever task Mazuroski wanted, be it stage manager, assistant director or auditioning for one of the roles.

“When he wasn’t able to direct it, I basically volunteered,” Rees said. “I’d really like to take a crack at it, because I had a stake in it to some degree to begin with, so the job fell to me, and I’m really glad it did. It has been a really fantastic experience working on this show.”

“Middletown” is described as an exploration of a small American town through its many characters and how they intersect with each other and the universe. It’s difficult to find anything written about the play that doesn’t make a reference to Thornton Wilder’s “Our Town.”

“There’s a plot and everything, but the scenes are almost more like vignettes that just kind of come together to form this world,” Rees said.

The cast features Amy-Anne Kibler, Brenden Boyle, Candace DiLullo, Brandon Donaldson, Chase Miles, Dominick Spisak, Eric Kibler, Eric McCrea, Jaclyn-Sarah Senich, Leslie Whetstine and Nick Mulichak.

“I’m so tickled to have assembled such a stacked cast,” Rees said. “These are some of the best performers in town, and they’re all wonderful to work with. I worked with all but two of them before, and I was happy to see what else they can do, because I have a lot of admiration and respect for these actors’ abilities and their past performances.”

Rees was just as excited about the other members of her “Middletown” that the audience won’t see on stage.

“I’ve got Rick Schilling doing the set design, and he worked at YSU (Youngstown State University) for 30 some years,” she said. “He’s an old pro, so the sets will be beautiful and really cool. Adam Dominick is doing the lighting design. He’s done lights for us before, and he does a really nice job with limited instruments.

“The sound design is really integral to the show as well. Nick Mulichak, who’s also in the show, did the sound design. Regina Rees, who’s president of the board — and also my mother — she handled the costumes and she helped with the set, and she’s always like the de facto producer of the show.”

The production team also includes stage managers Frank Carsone and Sarah Robles.

“This play, it just gets under your skin,” Rees said. “Different things, different aspects of the play will catch you and resonate … It’s going to be a cool theatrical experience, and some of the best acting you’ll see.”

If you go …

WHAT: “Middletown”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday through June 21 and 2 p.m. June 22

WHERE: Hopewell Theatre, 702 Mahoning Ave., Youngstown

HOW MUCH: Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and senior citizens and are available online at hopewelltheatre.org.