When the board members of Temecula Valley Players discussed bringing "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" to the Old Town Temecula Community Theater, there were surely a few reservations.

Back in 1982, when Universal Studios was trying to release the film by the same title, they ran into some roadblocks. In certain parts of the United States, the word "whorehouse" was considered obscene and the result was a renaming to "The Best Little Cathouse in Texas" in some advertisements.

In some parts of the country, television advertisements were even banned completely. Even today, the film's star, Dolly Parton, rarely uses the word when referencing the film.

And then there's the plot.

"The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" is based on the true story of the Gilbert, Texas, brothel called the Chicken Ranch, which operated from the 1840s to 1973. Protected by a friendly sheriff and frequented by politicians, football teams and others, the Chicken Ranch thrived for more than 100 years. Girls come from all over to work at the ranch and make a little extra cash.

Not exactly the sort of normal, family-friendly theatrical fare most offered in Temecula.

"We knew it would be somewhat controversial because of the demographics of Temecula," said co-producer Mark McCullough. "But we thought the overall message is a good one. The message is to be who you are."

In the late 1970s, the brothel is under the proprietorship of Miss Mona Stangley (played by Patti Drew), who, while taking care of her girls, is also on good terms with Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd (Billy Clebeck).

"(Miss Mona) is a former prostitute and she really takes good care of the people that work for her," said McCullough. "She gives people a home when they have nowhere else to go. She takes care of her working girls, but she has very strict rules and they know if they break the rules, she kicks them out. They know all these rules by heart, the girls even sing songs about them.

"In the opening scene, she has this young lady who comes from a bad situation, but she tries to get her to do any other type of work. It is almost as if its a family environment at this house."

In those days, the brothel was known to the general public, but because it had been around for so long, nobody seemed to mind. In fact, said McCullough, the winning team in a local football game was awarded a free visit to the ranch for their efforts.

But one day, a do-gooder television reporter named Melvin P. Thorpe (Don Vechione) goes about exposing the Chicken Ranch. With his conservative audience watching closely, his coverage puts pressure on the local lawmakers and they force the brothel to shut its doors forever.

"The brothel had been there for 100 years," McCullough said. "Then this stereotypical television reporter comes in, takes what little he knows and twists and turns the facts enough to make it into something really loud and obnoxious. Finally, he turns the crowd against the Chicken Ranch and shuts it down."

According to McCullough, Thorpe's biggest big claim to fame before his reports on the Chicken Ranch was his expose on buffets.

"He is credited as the guy responsible for sneeze guards at every buffet," McCullough said.

"The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" for stage and screen was based on a story by Larry L. King. The stage musical, co-directed by Peter Masterson and Tommy Tune and co-choreographed by Tune and Thommie Walsh, opened on Broadway in 1978, with songs by Carol Hall.

The movie version -- which starred Parton as Miss Mona, Burt Reynolds as Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd and co-starred Jim Nabors, Charles Durning, and Dom DeLuise -- retained many of Hall's songs.

"We are staying true to the script of the original playwright," McCullough said. "The movie and the play are different, but not real different. Most of the songs are the same you would have seen in the movie. … Only in our stage version, you don't get to see the sheriff in a G-string."

McCullough, who is sharing producer duties with Amy Horlock, said the selection of director CA Conn was an obvious choice.

"She knows the story really well," he said. "CA saw the play in London decades ago."

McCullough said highlights of the production, which opened last Friday, include Miss Mona's assistant and housekeeper, Jewel, singing an "outstanding" Gospel solo.

He said the large cast is fairly diverse also.

"When I was securing a storage unit for the production, I ran into a guy," said McCullough. "I was so impressed with his presence and attitude, I thought he would be great for the show. So I convinced him to come in an audition. Turns out, he was right for the show.

"We have a really good mix of first timers and people that have been around community theater for a long time."

"The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"

When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 11-12 and 2 p.m. Sunday and May 13

Where: Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St., Temecula

Tickets: $18

Info: (866) 653-8696