Published: December 02, 2008 08:31 am      

Toyland premiere nears at HCPAC

Shows scheduled to begin Friday, continue through December 13

The Henderson County Performing Arts Center in association with Lakeview Lodge announces the opening of Toyland by Peter and Kirsten Sham.

Toyland can be seen on Dec. 5 and Dec. 11-13 at 7:30 p.m. with a Saturday and Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. on Dec. 6-7.

The play will be presented at the theatre complex on Gibson Road in Athens. Ticket price is $12 for adults and $8 for students and children.

Toyland tells the story of three squabbling sisters on the night before Christmas. Together, they take a magical, musical journey encountering nearly every myth of childhood along the way, including the “Boogie Man” and the “Things” that go bump in the night.

Ultimately, they are led into the magical Toyland that is ruled over by an evil toymaker, Jack-in-the-Box. Once there, the sisters discover that Toyland is the place where toys go that are lost or mistreated; and where bad children are taken to become the “toys” of the Toymaster.

But, not to fear, this fairytale has a very happy ending indeed and shows how knowledge, friendship and love are the real keys to growing up.

Toyland is made up of a cast of 45 children ages 5 to 13 who are part of the YES! Company (Youth Excellence on Stage) of the theatre.

This is the 14th season that the YES! Company has performed in the Christmas production. Toyland is the perfect family musical for the holidays.

Part of the theatre’s Holiday tradition is its annual “Goodies” Auction that is held at the intermission of each performance.

This is more than a bake sale as donated baked goods are auctioned off as part of the YES! Company’s fund raising effort. More than $100,000 has been raised in the past 14 auctions.

This is also the last chance to take advantage of great savings on 2009 season tickets through the theatre’s second phase of its “early bird special.”

You can contact the theatre for details on how you can buy 2009 tickets for as low as $8 per show — that is 50 percent off the box office price.

Tickets for Toyland may be purchased by calling the theatre’s box office at 903-675-3908 extension 101 or by going online at www.hcpac.org.