A lot of people dream of having their poems or half-written novels published. Some hope the play they wrote late at night in the home office is produced on stage.

But how many realize such dreams?

Dr. Robert Kreashko, an orthodontist living in Oakmont, is one of the fortunate few. Dr. Kreashko's play about changing generations of men at a Pennsylvania hunting camp, "Camp Life," will premiere at 8 tonight at the Forum Theatre in a production by New Kensington Civic Theatre.

And the story of how the play came to be produced shows not only how important it is for a would-be playwright to persevere, but how art can articulate people's feelings on a topic of growing concern.

Dr. Kreashko, 47, said "Camp Life" started when he asked friend Colleen Clark-Sulava, the director of "Camp Life" and a 30-year supporter of the New Kensington Civic Theatre, to look at the script of a musical he wrote.

Ms. Clark-Sulava said there were interesting moments in Dr. Kreashko's musical, "but it didn't hang together. So I suggested he try writing about something he knew more about.

"Not seven months later, he shows up with this play."

Dr. Kreashko said "Camp Life" is not a musical and is "about 50 percent autobiographical." He said he drew on his 35 years as an avid hunter, mostly of small game. It contrasts the values of an older generation of hunters with what he called "the Nintendo generation."

Ms. Clark-Sulava said she saw right away that the play's subject would appeal to New Kensington theatergoers, and a workshop production of the first act persuaded Civic Theatre's board to include it in their 2008 season.

"The men were so interested in a play that was about masculinity," she said. "In this area, almost everyone either hunts or knows someone who does."

But as newspaper headlines have pointed out, hunting is on the decline nationwide -- so much so that Saturday, West Virginia legislators approved a measure through which public schools will offer hunter-training courses.

Dr. Kreashko said part of the problem is young people who have replaced outdoor pursuits with computers and video games.

"Nintendo has replaced hunting," said Dr. Kreashko, who has professional offices in Lower Burrell, Natrona Heights and Leechburg.

"Young people have forgotten the tradition that goes along with hunting, the great respect the men had for each other, the rite of passage that taught boys to respect and understand nature."

And younger people seem to have little patience for the peace and solitude offered by the outdoors, he said.

"They think the woods are just for keg parties."

Ms. Clark-Sulava said even before its premiere, the play had generated interest.

"We've had people coming out of the woodwork to be in this show," she said, adding that usually it's more difficult to find men willing to go on stage.

The cast includes John DelVecchio, Shawn Israel, Cliff McCalmont, Bill Mitas, Nate Newell, Bob Peters, Jim Scriven and Dennis Sulava, the director's husband.

Ms. Clark-Sulava said she's aware of the contrast of being the female director of an all-male production about hunting. But she said the play's central concern -- how to keep one's integrity in a changing world -- is not gender-specific.

Dr. Kreashko noted that despite the long hours at the computer in his home office, "Camp Life" has gone through an even longer process of revision to reach opening night.

After the workshop production of the first act, he said, "I had to write the second act," all while working on rewrites, first with Ms. Clark-Sulava, then with a larger group over the summer.

Even now, he said, the actors continue to suggest changes.

But Dr. Kreashko said he's never been one to tire easily.

"My wife calls me exhausting," he said, adding that his high energy level has probably helped him stick to writing when others might have become discouraged.

His wife, Lisa, also served as "Camp Life's" first reader. They have two children: son Travis is a student at West Virginia University and daughter Alexis attends Highlands High School.

With his premiere approaching, Dr. Kreashko said, he has even more energy than usual.

"There are times when I'm so excited this is happening to me that I can't sleep at night," he said. "I'm living the dream."