After opening “Hamlet: Paranormal Activity” at the Dixon Community Theater last weekend, the father and son team of David Cripe Jr. and Sr. are stepping back on stage for their second and final weekend of shows.

Finding common ground between a father and his17-year-old son can be a challenge, but the Dixon Community Theater offered the Cripe family an outlet.

“It’s given us something to have in common,” says Cripe Sr. “It’s pretty nice that we have something to talk about. We drive to the theater together and back home and talk about how it went, that sort of thing.”

“Hamlet: Paranormal Activity” is a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s story, adapted into modern English, while keeping some of the most famous original lines. This version, says Cripe Sr., emphasizes the relationship between Hamlet and the ghost of his father.

Although he had originally signed on as the stage manager, after the production lost a couple actors, Cripe Sr. took on not one, but two roles. “I’m pinch-hitting now as King Claudius and the Ghost,” he says.

While Cripe Sr. has some acting experience, traced back to theater classes in college, his son, Cripe Jr. is new to the spotlight.

Although he’s wanted to act since he was a young kid “it’s only been about a year or so since I’ve really gotten myself into the experience of plays,” says Cripe Jr. So, getting cast as the lead in “Hamlet” came with some mixed emotions.

“I was excited but I was also very nervous because I didn’t have a lot of confidence, having so little experience. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting myself into, having a lead role like that,” says Cripe Jr.

For both actors, learning their lines was nerve-wracking. “To be honest, it was distressing,” Cripe Sr. laughs. But in the end, they agree that everything came together on opening night.

“I think it was probably our best performance we have had,” Cripe Jr. said. “I was very nervous being, you know, the lead role in the spotlight, but I think overall as a cast we did a very good job.”

As they head into their final weekend of performances, Cripe Sr. says the pair is “hoping to have more fun.” Last Sunday’s performance was a good example, he said. After the nerves of opening the show wore off a little bit, they had a good time and hope this upcoming weekend is a repeat of that.

If you go …

WHAT: “Hamlet: Paranormal Activity” with the Dixon Community Theater.

WHEN: Feb. 28, March 1 at 7 p.m. and March 2 at 2 p.m.

WHERE: Dixon Performing Arts Center, 555 College Way, Dixon.