The nomadic Narrow Way Stage Company, with nearly five years of local history but no permanent theater of its own, returns to the Spreckels Performing Arts Center in Rohnert Park with a new show, opening this week.

That’s a good deal for both organizations, since the center’s resident theater troupe, Pacific Alliance Stage Co., has gone on hiatus for a year, due to city budget cuts.

Previously, Narrow Way staged the perennially popular comedy, “Noises Off,” at the center to good audiences. Now the group is coming back.

Narrow Way will present Irish playwright Conor McPherson’s chilling and funny drama, “The Seafarer,” nominated for four of Broadway’s Tony Awards in 2008, at 8 p.m.  Feb. 12-14, 18-21 and 25-28 at Spreckels.

This production’s guest director is popular North Bay actor Tim Kniffin, who co-starred in Gore Vidal’s “The Best Man” at Berkeley’s Aurora Theatre. The San Francisco Bay Area Critics Circle named the show the best ensemble performance for 2008, and the best overall drama production for theaters with 100-300 seats.

The same season, Kniffin co-starred with TV actor Daniel Benzali in “Death of Salesman” at Santa Rosa’s 6th Street Playhouse, which was nominated for a Bay Area Critics Circle award for best ensemble.

Kniffin has appeared with nearly every theater group in Sonoma County, but this is his directorial debut.

“It’s my first adult directing project,” Kniffin said. Then he added, playfully, “I think we might have a lil’ sneaker of a show with this ‘Seafarer.'”

The cast includes Edward McCloud, Keith Baker, Matt Witthaus, Neil Thollander and Freddie Lambert.

Don’t bother trying the read fine print on the poster show above. Here are the details: Spreckels Performing Arts Center, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park. $10-$20. spreckelsonline.com, 588-3400.