Governor won’t play in ‘Sheep Dip’

Organizers of the satirical political variety show "Sheep Dip," say for the first time in 46 years of production a Nevada governor is unwilling to participate.

Dave Ruhl, president of the production, said Friday that Gov. Jim Gibbons declined an invitation because the script provided "had crossed the line by making it personal."

The production, which opens tonight at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks, is a longtime tradition that Gibbons and other governors have played along with in the past.

Said Ruhl in an e-mail: "Not many more details to give you on his refusal; his chief of staff delivered the news to us back in early October '09. We then asked (ex-wife) Dawn (Gibbons) to shoot a video for us and she graciously did ... went over very well last night at dress rehearsal."

Dan Burns, spokesman for Gov. Gibbons, said the governor didn't have time to participate.