“You really don’t understand someone until you climb in their shoes and walk around a bit,” Edward Powers, professor of theatre, said, noting his mirroring of the words of the famous Atticus Finch from the novel “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

Powers isn’t battling segregation in the conservative town of Maycomb, but rather is fighting for acceptance of a different kind in today’s world.

He will be directing the “complex” fall play titled “The Boys Next Door” which is a comedy centered on four men with special needs and their caregiver, Jackie.

The four men all have mental disabilities, ranging from obsessive compulsive disorder to schizophrenia. Powers, after narrowing the fall play selections to just two, decided to go with the comedy because he was looking for something that “had heart” and he enjoyed the significant message that “The Boys Next Door” carries.

“For so long society wanted to take people with special needs and shove them to the back, put them away, put them out of sight,” Powers said.

Though Powers admits that he “factored in” that the idea of a comedy about people special needs sounds off-putting, he feels as though the cast “best connected” to the intense story, which Powers described as “heart aching and sad” as well as featuring “pure joy” amongst the characters.

“I like the message, the characters and the challenge it brought to the actors and the audience, of portraying special needs adults trying to just maneuver the world. We see things from their perspective,” Powers said.

He intends for the audience to come with “an open mind and open heart,” to be able to laugh with the men during the silly moments, as well as watch them attempt to come seemingly overwhelming adversity in just getting through their daily lives.

Laughter from the audience during the play is encouraged, as it is a comedy, and Powers assures that it is completely without ridicule, but rather focused on the “charming” actions of the characters.

With this being his 54 production through the university, Powers  directed the show once before in 2002. After the recent loss of his cousin who lived with special needs, he felt re-inspired to direct the show.

“I wanted to revisit the boys’ life, and to do it with an audience,” Powers said.

Intended to be a part of that audience is Michelle Keith, senior middle level math and science major. Keith, who has worked with several students with special needs and disabilities through her time student teaching, “didn’t like the selection” of the play.

Keith sees the potential in the show to be “educational and heartwarming,” but, she says, the overview of the play makes her “uncomfortable.” She recommends students research the play before attending.

“I definitely think that if people are educated about the intent of the show and actors and actresses portray their characters with sensitivity the show will be fantastic,” Keith said.