You might think an executive who spends every working day advocating for local artists and trying to increase community participation in the arts might want to relax by doing something distinctly not arts-related. Scott Garka, president of the nonprofit organization Richmond CultureWorks, regularly spends his “free time” on stage.

“I love performing for others,” says Garka. “I like being part of telling a story to others. I like being able to go to a rehearsal where I’m just focused on the character I’m playing instead of what’s going on in the real world.”

Garka stars in the upcoming production of “Clever Little Lies” being staged by Chamberlayne Actors Theatre (CAT). Playing his wife in the show is another leader in the local arts community, Amy Berlin.

While holding down a demanding day job as a staff attorney for the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals for nearly 30 years, Berlin has spent decades supporting the local arts scene in a myriad of ways.

She currently serves on the committee considering applications to the Theatre Artist Fund of Greater Richmond, a component of the Community Foundation that supports theater artists who have suffered economic hardship. She’s also a member of the Richmond Theatre Community Circle that bestows the annual Artsies Awards and has served on CAT’s board of directors for more than a decade.

While the standard line is that people who volunteer their time in the ways that she does are “giving back,” Berlin says she sees her participation as selfish. “It’s very selfish because I want to do all these things,” she laughs. “Someone has to help behind the scenes and I’ve gotten so much joy and love and support from doing these things for so long.”

Berlin does concede some level of altruism in her efforts. “There is a ‘do your part’ sort of motivation,” she says. “But mostly, it would break my heart to think that opportunities [in the arts] wouldn’t be there for the next generation.”

The off-Broadway premiere of “Clever Little Lies” featured Marlo Thomas in a performance “Deadline” called “funny, sleek and engaging.” The show tells the story of a couple (played by Garka and Berlin) who have invited their son and his wife over for dinner. During the visit, secrets involving infidelity are exposed, causing both couples to reconsider their relationships.

Zachary Owen directs for CAT and, as the guy in charge of a couple of people who are used to being in charge themselves, he says the power dynamics never get wonky during rehearsal.

“With these two in particular, they’re very gracious about ceding control and listening,” Owen says. “That’s the biggest thing, really. I want people who are gonna listen and work with me.”

“I also want people willing to play and try things and I think that their leadership skills give them the confidence to try.”

Garka says that, in his experience, people involved in theater have a natural tendency to extend their involvement in the arts beyond whatever specific production they’re working on.

“There’s a collaborative spirit among theater people, a willingness to work together to tackle problems,” he says. “I talk to employers all the time who ask me if they should hire a theater person and I tell them that theater people are the best problem-solvers there are. When you’re working on a show and there’s an issue, the curtain’s going up at 8 o’clock no matter what, so they’re going to figure something out.”

Berlin concurs that a ‘can-do’ attitude drives some of her community involvement and says a problem-solving ethic is reflected in Alice, her character in “Lies.” In the play, it’s Alice who pushes the conflicts toward resolution.

“I hate things that are unresolved,” says Berlin. “I can’t just let things go because my mind will circle back and circle back. So, in that way, I think Alice and I are similar. [Like her] I would make everybody sit down and talk about it.”

“But I hope that I’m not as mental about it as she is.”

Chamberlayne Actors Theatre’s “Clever Little Lies” will run at Hanover Arts and Activities Center, 500 S Center Street in Ashland, from Feb. 23 to March 9. Tickets and information at https://onthestage.tickets/chamberlayne-actors-theatre.