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COVINGTON, KY — Last year a limited-run production of "Above the 37th Parallel," a play written by Milford resident Nancy Jones detailing her struggle with multiple sclerosis, raised $20,000 for MS research.

So it will be revived this weekend, Sept. 12-13, once again featuring Sherman Fracher, one of the region's most notable actresses. Her husband, Drew Fracher, a professional actor/director and fight master, will direct.

"MS touches a lot of lives," Fracher said. "I had a cousin who died from the complications of MS, and Nancy is an incredibly brave person and so it's an honor for me to celebrate her struggle, that she's not letting this disease define how she lives and doesn't allow it to slow her down."

"The title of the play comes from the fact that six people on the street where I grew up in Milford were diagnosed with MS," explained playwright Nancy Jones. "If you look at a map, the 37th parallel stretches from Newport News, Va., to Santa Cruz, Calif. It reaches across Kentucky putting Ohio smack dab in the 'MS belt.' Statistics show that there is a higher incidence of the disease above the 37th parallel."

New to this year's production is an original song from David Kisor, a Cincinnati musician who has created the holiday musical for the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati for the last 12 years.

"He has a close friend with MS and was interested in contributing to our project in some way," Jones said. "He read the script and presented us with an original song called 'The Imaginary Line.' We use the song in conjunction with the show, and it is on CD, available for a donation, with the proceeds going to MS research."

All ticket proceeds and donations directly benefit research and programs of the Waddell Center for MS Research at the University of Cincinnati and the Ohio Valley Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, which also serves Northern Kentucky.

how to go

WHAT: "Above the 37th Parallel" by Nancy Jones

WHERE: Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, 1028 Scott Boulevard, Covington

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 12 and 13

COST: $25

MORE INFO: (859) 957-1940; www.thecarnegie.com