Children will love “The Toys Take Over Christmas,” say the cast of the show.
It’s a short play about a toymaker, who calls himself “The Greatest Toymaker in the World.”
He may be the greatest toymaker, but he’s a selfish one who keeps the toys to himself. He won’t sell them or give them away. And he’s figured out a way to bring the toys to life.
He runs into trouble when Sunny, a happy, curious rag doll, finds out a secret.
This Columbus State University production began in 2003 when Ray Lakes, now retired CSU director of alumni affairs, called theater professor Brenda May Ito about doing a fundraiser for theater scholarships.
Lakes also wanted a production that was meant just for pre-schoolers and called it “Lunch with Santa.” That first year, the two shows sold out, and in subsequent years, CSU has added more and more shows, now doing five or six sold out shows.
This year, for the first time, CSU has decided to offer the show (without lunch but Santa Claus will make an appearance) to the public, Friday and Saturday.
Last year, the show made almost $8,000 for the theater’s scholarship fund.
The young actors love doing the show, they said.
“We get to interact with the audience,” said Abby Blankenship, who plays Sunny, the rag doll.
Marvin Kelly, who plays one of the soldiers, says he likes it because the show “teaches life-long messages of friendship and love.”
“The story is about love and giving,” said Amanda Roberts, who plays the Christmas fairy. “The children who watch it will get something out of it.”
Even though the cast was rehearsing last week, they got a break to go home for the Thanksgiving holidays. They were back to work on Monday.
“We get to rest and that’s a good thing,” said Jacob Demolow, the other toy soldier, about the break.
Cameron Hoelzer, who plays the Toymaker, admits that his character is an egomaniac.
“The toys take over and outsmart me,” Hoelzer said. “It makes me (his character) a better person all around.”
So does Hoelzer have a favorite toy?
“I still have a Buzz Lightyear at home that I got when I was young,” he said.
Kelly’s favorite Christmas memory?
“When my dad came home from Iraq,” he said.
“Well, none of us can top that,” Blankenship said. “But I think we all have a favorite toy.”
Chad Cowgill, who plays Clownie, said he’s looking forward to celebrating his nephew’s first Christmas.
He received a collective “Ahhh,” from his cast mates.
They are all looking forward to doing the show, and Roberts can’t wait to see the reaction from the children in the audience.
“I’m really looking forward to that,” she said.
THE CAST
Toymaker: Cameron Hoelzer, 21, is a senior theater performance major from Dacula, Ga. He has been in “Noises Off,” “The Crucible,” “Cowboy Mouth,” “The Edge,” “Crazy for You,” “Parasite Drag” and “The Wrestling Season.”
Sunny: Abby Blankenship, 20, is a senior theater performance major from Albany, Ga. She has been in “Noises Off,” “Blue’s Clues Live!,” “Rocketman,” “Cowboy Mouth,” “Eurydice,” “The Crucible,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Piece of My Heart” and “The Wrestling Season."
Clownie: Chad Cowgill, 20, is a sophomore theater performance major from Liberty, Mo. He has been in “Noises Off,” “Alice at the Realm,” “The 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” “Sanitary Subconscious Sanity,” “Crazy for You” and “Monday on the Park with Sondheim.”
Santa Claus: Matt Rodgers, 20, is a junior theater performance major (with a teaching certificate) from McDonough, Ga. He has been in “Three Sisters,” “Rocketman,” “Charlotte’s Web” and “The Wrestling Season.”
Christmas Fairy: Amanda Roberts, 21, is a senior theater education major from Peachtree City, Ga. She has been in “Charlotte’s Web,” “The Crucible,” “100,” “White and Black and Red,” “All Over a Series of Mime Vignettes,” “Monday on the Park with Sondheim,” “Love Affair” and “Santa’s Christmas Tree.” She also plays the Old Woman.”
Captain: Brad Coggin, 21, is a junior theater performance major from Lawrenceville, Ga. He has been in “Three Sisters,” “Blues’ Clues Live!,” “As You Like It,” “In Dreams/Nightmares,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Aesop’s Fables on Stage” and “Crazy for You.”
Tina: Savannah Stanton, 23, a junior theater education from Walnut Grove, Ga. She has been in “Five Kinds of Silence.”
Soldier No. 1: Jacob Demlow, 19, is a sophomore from Sumpter, S.C. He has been in “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.”
Soldier No. 2: Marvin Kelly, 22, is a senior theater education major. This is his first CSU play.
Customer: Emily Parrish, 20, is a sophomore theater performance major from Vienna, Va. She has been in “Three Sisters,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “The House of Yes,” “Dancing on Broadway” and”Frames of Time.”
