Before becoming a famous playwright, Larry Shue lived down the road at Fort Lee from 1969 to 1972. There he served as a soldier and took a leading role in entertaining the post. “The Nerd” was his first full-length play. It went across the pond, where Rowan Atkinson of “Mr. Bean” played the lead, and now it’s coming back: Theater VCU will produce it during October, starring (from left) Paul Worth, Frank Alfano Jr., and Erin Morgan. The show tells the story of Willum Cubbert, a Vietnam vet whose career and love life are going along nicely on the night of his 34th birthday until a fellow GI — unknown to him but who saved his life on the battlefield —shows up and settles in for longer than expected. Cubbert has to out-nerd his nerdy houseguest to try to get rid of him. “The Nerd” runs at the Singleton Center Sept. 28-Oct. 8. Times vary. Tickets are $5-$15. 828-6026.