For many aspiring stage actors, Broadway is the road of their dreams — the lights, their names in bold on the marquee, the recognition of their having made it to the “big time.” Yet for others, their passion for acting is much simpler and intimate — their only motivation being the love for the stage.

Sally Evans, of Stanhope, enjoys stepping outside her everyday life and into the role of a fictional character, and her participation in community theater satisfies her passion for acting.

“It’s fun to get on stage and play someone other than myself,” Evans says.

“When I get up and give a speech as myself, I get nervous; but when I do it as someone else, it’s fun.”

Evans is one of the stars in the Ames Community Theater of Recreational Services’ production of Lee Blessing’s play, “Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music.” This comedic story of a former Texas biker bar’s transformation into a reputable establishment gives the audience a glimpse into the lives of its patrons.

Mike Deaton, of Ames, who appears in the lead role of Roy Manual, says it often takes a great deal of time and preparation to find the essence of the characters the actors are portraying.

“I read the play and try to get an idea of what the character is like,” Deaton says.

“A lot of times the character doesn’t come out until the last week of rehearsals.”

Evans says although the actors spend ample time working together in the studio, she enjoys spending time outside the confines of the theater to refine her performance.

“I commute and I do a lot of memorizing on my drive,” she says.

For Deaton, who has a background in both acting and directing for community theater, the opportunity to take on a leading role was one of the key reasons for his involvement in the play.

“It was an opportunity to get on stage and play a major character — which I like,” he says.

Compared to straight drama, Deaton says portraying characters in a comedic production presents its own unique set of challenges.

“Comedy is a little harder than drama,” Deaton says. “With drama, the timing isn’t as important or intense. You’ve got to have a good sense of timing.”

Evans agrees that a good sense of timing is an important part of comedic acting. In spite of the rigorous practice schedule, performing in front of a live audience adds other dimensions to the performance, she says.

“One thing you have to be aware of is having to pause for laughter,” Evans says. “It can throw you off a little bit.”

She says another important aspect of performance is making sure the audience is following the action being portrayed on stage. “I think one of the important things is to make sure the audience understands what I’m saying — to really get the story across,” Evans says.

Deaton, who has been involved in a number of productions in Ames, as well as in his hometown, says he took an interest in acting at an early age and at one point even considered pursuing a career in theater.

“I got into theater in high school and then majored in it in college,” Deaton says. “But I had to drop out due to lack of funds. After that, I got involved in community theater.”

The actor says the opportunity to interact with a variety of other performers is one of his biggest motivations for being involved in theater. “For me, it’s the teamwork,” Deaton says. “It’s fun — I have a great time.”

What: “Nice People Dancing to Good Country Music”

Where: ACTORS Studio, 120 Abraham Drive

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday

Cost: $13 students/seniors, $15 public