Enjoy a festive holiday expedition to a wondrous place that fuels the imagination of girls and boys everywhere: Toyland! A girl and her little brother discover that one of their toys is alive when a magical elf shows up with a dire message: Santa is in trouble! The siblings and their new friends head to Toyland to save Santa and the holiday, encountering many challenges along the way. Will they make it in time to save Santa and Christmas?
Theater • Best for ages 5 and older • 55 minutes
Written by Karen Abbott.
Artistic Credits
Director: Michael Harrelson
Scenic Designer: Mark Parrott
Lighting Designer: Carson Gross
Costume Designer: Sherri Geerdes
Properties Master: Ronald L. Wells, Jr.
Stage Manager: Dani Taylor
Cast
Holly: Lauren Krupski Carlson
Ted: Aaron Mann
Scrappy: Maddie Mardesen
Michael, Mrs. Lingonberry, Dog Star, Troll, Sea Nymph, and Santa Claus: Walter Shatley
Star (the dog): Toby
From the Director
What’s the best present you ever received? What value does it hold for you? Would you ever be willing to part with it? These are questions that seem to be asked in relation to the holidays and ones that we hope cross your mind today.
We are pleased to offer Ticket To Toyland once again after it was first produced at the Emmy Gifford Children’s Theater. Playwright Karen Abbott captured the spirit of the season in a tale that took audiences on an outlandish, magical journey. Twenty years later the heart of this piece is still relevant, as it lies in something that all of us can relate to this time of year: Stuff! As much as I enjoy the stuff in my life, I am reminded during the holidays that life may not come down to what we have or our accomplishments, but rather simply the people in our lives. The story of Christmas itself tells us the most important gift ever given to humanity wasn’t under a tree, but in a manger.
The creativity, energy, and dedication that Aaron, Dani, Lauren, Maddie, Walter, and our crew brought to the rehearsal process was MOST excellent. A big thank you to Jennifer Collins Hard for convincing Toby to be in our show and to our education staff for allowing me to learn from you the past seven years.
Show Director Michael Harrelson
This show will be interpreted for the hearing impaired on Saturday, Dec. 29th at 2 pm.
Going to The Rose Guide
It’s almost time for our next production, “Ticket to Toyland.” We’ve assembled some special information to help you and your family to get ready. Before you go to the show, you might want to take a few moments to review this guide so everyone will know what to expect from the performance.
From Story to Stage
• “Ticket to Toyland” is a new version of an original script by Karen Abbott, a former playwright in residence at The Rose Theater. Karen also wrote adaptations of “Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters” and “Richard Scarry’s Busytown” during her time with The Rose.
• The original production of “Ticket to Toyland” was performed at the Emmy Gifford Children’s Theater in 1989. The two scripts share some of the same characters but have very different storylines.
While at The Rose
• Stay for the Post-Show Q&A - Our actors end each performance with a 5-10 minute Q&A session conducted from the stage. The Q&A offers a wonderful opportunity for children to ask questions and learn more about the scenery, costumes, special effects, and more!
• Meet the Cast & Get an Autograph – Select actors from the show will be available after the show to sign autographs. Meet them on the mezzanine outside the entrance to the balcony level seats.
• Grab a Class Brochure – If you like what you saw on the stage and think you would like to be a part of it, try taking a class at The Rose Theater. The Rose offers a wide variety of classes for every interest and experience level.
The Story You Will See
Late on Christmas Eve, a girl named Holly and her little brother, Michael, are startled when a magical elf shows up needing help. The elf has made some mischief and Christmas could be in jeopardy! With the help of the audience and Holly’s teddy bear, they set out on an adventurous journey to save Santa’s magical flight and Christmas. Will they be able to right the elf’s wrongs in time to save everyone’s favorite holiday? Perhaps only Santa knows for sure!
The Characters You Will Meet
• Holly – A materialistic young girl who is excited to receive many presents during the holiday season.
• Michael – Holly’s very intelligent younger brother who enjoys science.
• Ted – One of Holly’s teddy bears, who comes to life and helps with the journey.
• Scrappy – A nervous elf who steals from Santa and tries to make up for it with Holly and Ted’s help.
• Mrs. Ligonberry – Holly and Michael’s babysitter on Christmas Eve.
• Dog Star – The brightest star in the heavens.
• Troll – An underground troll who refuses to let Holly, Scrappy, or Ted pass until they give him something.
• Sea Nymph – A clever and somewhat flirtatious sea creature.
• Santa Claus – A jolly man who helps Holly to better understand the spirit of the holiday season.
Things to Know Before You Go
• The show features strobe lights and other special lighting effects.
• A teddy bear and several magical creatures (including a troll) come to life in this show. This can be exciting to watch, but could also be scary for some very young children.
• Early in the show, Holly displays greedy behavior. She doesn’t always treat everyone with respect and initially embraces the more materialistic side of Christmas. You may want to talk as a family about Holly’s attitude and its impact on those around her.
• During this show, Scrappy learns a valuable lesson about stealing. When Scrappy steals from Santa, there are significant consequences, and she has to spend a lot of time and effort trying to right her wrong.
• The Sea Nymph and Ted share a fairly tame moment of playful flirtation that could be viewed as a bit mature for some children.
Topics for Dinnertime Discussion
One of the best ways to enjoy a show is to talk about the story and the characters with others who attended. Below are some topics you may want to discuss.
Before the Show
• At first, Holly believes that the most important thing about Christmas is getting presents. What is the most important thing about Christmas for you? What is your favorite part about the Christmas season?
• In this story, Holly’s teddy bear comes to life! Is there a certain toy you have that you wish would come to life? What kinds of activities would you do together? If that toy came to life, would it create any problems?
• In the beginning of the show, Holly is not getting along with her brother very well. Do you have a brother, sister, cousin, or close friend that you sometimes don’t get along with? How do you resolve your problems?
After the Show
• At the beginning of the show, Holly acts rather selfish, only caring about the long list of toys she wants for Christmas. what are some things that are more important than presents during the Christmas season?
• By helping Scrappy the Elf to right her wrong, Holly and the other characters learn that stealing is a bad thing that can hurt others. They also learn the importance of telling the truth. Can you think of a time when you told the truth, even when it was hard? What did it feel like?
• At the end of the show, Holly and her friends are able to save Christmas by working together and being thoughtful. Do you think Holly learned what the holiday season is truly all about? What do you think she might do differently when she celebrates Christmas next year?
Awesome After-Show Activities
After your family enjoys the show, you might want to try these fun activities at home to extend the experience!
• Good Deeds Christmas List – In addition to making a Christmas wish list, try making a good deeds list. Write down a list of good deeds, such as doing the dishes, walking the dog, holding a door, and saying please and thank you. Every time you complete a good deed, draw a Christmas tree next to the task to show that it is completed.
•Tell Your Own Toyland Tale – Create a puppet show using your favorite toys! Think about how your toys would talk, walk and move. Write up a story about their holiday adventures. You can practice telling it (maybe with a friend) and then put on a show for your family!
• Make Magic Dust – Find a paper lunch sack and cover it with festive Christmas drawings and decorations. Fill the sack with glitter or confetti and leave a trail to your door so that Santa’a reindeer will be able to find you!
• Costume a Character – Design a costume for one of the characters in the show. Explore items, fabrics, and colors that could be used to create a teddy bear or troll.
