Stagecrafters is gearing up to present “Perfect Arrangement,” a comedy by Topher Payne, running through May 11 at the theater company’s 2nd Stage in downtown Royal Oak.

“Perfect Arrangement” takes place in the 1950s at the height of the Red Scare, identified as the period of public fear and anxiety over the rise of communist or socialist ideologies. It reached a fever pitch between 1950 and 1954 when U.S. Sen. Joe McCarthy (R-WI) launched a series of highly publicized probes into alleged Communist penetration at the highest levels of government, including the State Department, the White House, the Treasury, and the U.S. Army.

The show “blends farce and drama to expose the impossible standards of conformity — and the courage it takes to break free,” according to the show’s description. “It’s a timely, thought-provoking and wildly entertaining ride through secrets, lies and lavender marriages.”

Leta Chrisman of Berkley is directing the production.

“I have been wanting to get this show on stage for a few years, since the first time I read the script,” Chrisman said. “I love the story, characters and message. It’s painfully relevant currently and I believe it’s important to see diverse and engaging stories on stage, especially if they’re not something we’re used to seeing.”Chrisman added: “Also, the historical context is something not a lot of people are aware of. We learn about Sen. McCarthy hunting communists during the ‘Red Scare’ era, but not all of the other groups he and his supporters targeted, and I believe it’s important to hear their stories, as well.”

Chrisman says this show is timely, because “the recent push to take away long fought for rights and legal protections from the queer community, as well as so many other marginalized populations, has been making this show more relevant every day we’ve been rehearsing. More shows like this should be happening and more people should be speaking out because it’s vital to our communities.”

Stagecrafters’ 2nd Stage is quite a bit different from their main stage productions.

“Second Stage does tend to be more intimate shows, less mainstream titles and overall a more experimental space for artists to create in,” Chrisman said. “It’s a very different environment than our main stage, but it really brings the audience closer to the action and allows us to connect in a completely different way.”

In the end, Stagecrafters offers more than just live theater to the Royal Oak community. It’s about bringing the community together, organizers said.

“For 69 seasons, Stagecrafters has been a place where people come together, to see shows, to help create the magic on and off stage, and to create a place for community,” Chrisman said. “There’s amazing things that happen when a group of people get together to make art happen and it’s a place for connections to thrive.”