Author, composer and country music star Kenny Rogers brings his original musical “The Toy Shoppe,” starring TV legend Alan Thicke (“Growing Pains”), to the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at the College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd., Friday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. This marvelous family-friendly adventure blends old-fashioned values with the excitement of an original Broadway-style musical. With gorgeous ballads, singing and dancing toys and a beautiful message of hope and miracles, this holiday musical delights young and old alike.
Thicke stars as Hank Longley, owner of Longley’s Toy Shoppe, a place of magic and mystery. Famous for its vast collection of toys, Longley’s shop soon becomes the target of Mr. Baxter, an overzealous entrepreneur who aims to make Longley’s whimsical workshop part of his corporate chain of burger restaurants. As Baxter schemes, it is up to a cast of magical characters to save the day.
“The Toy Shoppe” debuted in 1998 off-Broadway as an one-act theatrical production of "Christmas from the Heart Featuring the 'Toy Shoppe’" presented by Hallmark Entertainment at the historic Beacon Theatre in New York City. The show enjoyed a six-week holiday run. Since then, the lavish production has been expanded and has had seven national tours. "The Toy Shoppe" book was
published in the fall of 2000 with a companion CD. The original music from the production, featuring 11 new songs co-written by Rogers, can be enjoyed on Dreamcatcher Records, a division of the artist's Dreamcatcher Entertainment, Inc.
The cast for the Dec. 4 engagement of “The Toy Shoppe” includes Alan Thicke (Hank), Olivia Kay (Katie), Kelsey Lamb (Allison/Jill in the Box), Bailey Laws (Giselle/Toy Doll), Britt Prentice (Patterson/Bruno), Madison Foreman (Foxy/Ballerina), Timothy Oman (Baxter), Chicagoland’s Todd Rhoades (Sarge/Banker) and Liz Loar (Monkey/Banker), Luas Maverick (Luke), Jadyn Collie (Andrea), Dennison Collie (Kurt), Daltyn Collie (Rosemary) and Dave Darmour (Delivery Guy and producer). College of DuPage Chamber Singers, directed by Lee R. Kesselman are also featured in this production.
“The Toy Shoppe” based on an original story written by Kenny Rogers and Kelly Junkermann, features music and lyrics by Kenny Rogers. The creative team also includes Junkermann (director), Steve Glassmeyer (music composition), Warren Hartman (music direction), Elena Serykh (choreography), Hope Johnstone (associate producer), David Schultz (lighting director), Frank Farrell (sound design), Austin Baldwin (sound tech), Jason Lewis (set design), Gina Le Lewis (merchandise).
