Written by composer-lyricist-playwright Robert John Ford, Caucus! received national media attention during the 2008 presidential campaign. The musical comedy about Iowa's electoral event has been updated for 2012.

Ron Ziegler directs the production, which will begin previews Dec. 8 at the Stoner Theater in Des Moines. Performances are scheduled through Dec. 31.

Here's how Ford bills the show: "When an unassuming farmer and his family are called 'the typical Iowa caucus voters' by the press, their lives are thrown into chaos when a group of competitive and increasingly-desperate presidential candidates try anything to win their endorsements! This home-grown production is a hilarious and irreverent look at the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses and how this small state plays a large role in the presidential nominating process."

The cast will include Greg Millar, Annette Duffy, Jim Kolnik, Katie Dorrell, Kim Grimald, Pernell Ferguson, Caleb Lubka, Kent Fieldsend, Anita Holland, Steve Betz, John Busbee, Susan Grozier, Erin Dean, Eric Shepard, Brianne Magel, Cedric Fevrier, Judy Blessington, Keith Berger, Samantha Aaron and Trey McCracken.

Caucus! has choreography by Alison Shafer, musical direction by Eric Shepard, scenic design by Patty Ford, lighting design by Jim Trenberth, costume design by Donna Kunkel and sound design by Steve Schmitt. Ford's Utopia: The Iowa Musical Revue, which skewers and celebrates the people and places of Iowa, will also run at the Stoner Theater Dec. 15-31. It has been updated since its 2010 debut. Ford is also the writer of My Dinner With Andrew, an autobiographical two-man drama about his encounters with serial killer Andrew Cunanan, which premiered at the Minnesota Fringe Festival last summer.

For tickets visit www.civiccenter.org.