ECU SHOWTIME, East Central University’s premiere music theatre performing ensemble, and a lengthy cast of children from the Ada area will present “Babes in Toyland” at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 7-8 in the Dorothy Summers Theatre on the ECU campus.
Tickets are free for ECU employees and students with a valid ID. Show prices for the general public are $7 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and $3 for children five and under.
The Mother Goose Children and their teacher, Miss Penny Lane, are confused when they find out that Mr. Barnaby wants to marry Miss Mary Quite Contrary, after he announced that the man of her dreams and his only nephew, Alan, is lost at sea. Barnaby is surprised to find his nephew alive when the gypsies arrive, because Barnaby hired two ruffians, Gonzorgo and Roderigo, to get rid of Alan for good.
Alan jumps to conclusions and thinks that Mistress Mary has accepted his uncle’s proposal, so she decides to go to Toyland until her broken heart mends. In the meantime, her mother, Widow Piper, adds comedy when she misunderstands Barnaby’s proposal for Mistress Mary as her own.
Gonzorgo and Roderigo are hired to get rid of Alan once again in the Haunted Forest, where Alan finds Mistress Mary being chased by zombie-like creatures of the night. Alan and Mistress Mary get away and head to Toyland.
The Great Toymaster and his Toy Inspector, Molly Marmaduke, are working on the Gizmoh Machine that brings dolls to life. Mrs. Claus tries to keep the Toymaster in line, as she prepares for the Christmas season.
There is chaos in Toyland once everyone arrives. Holly tries to help Alan and Mary get back to Mother Goose Land and Mother Gooseland characters come to come to Toyland. Barnaby, along with Gonzorgo and Roderigo, try to use the Gizmoh Machine to take over the world by bringing the Toyland Dolls to life.
The ECU SHOWTIME students are: Allie Bush, a freshman from Sapulpa who plays Miss Mary Mary Quite Contrary; Dalton Cummins, a freshman from Ada who portrays the Great Toymaster; Tufton Green, a freshman from Anadarko who plays Alan, the nephew; Trey Shofner, a freshman from Ada who portrays Roderigo; Nicole Erwin, a sophomore from Ada who plays Mrs. Claus; Bessi-Mei Soh, a sophomore from Stratford who portrays Marmaduke, the toy inspector; Annette Lorraine Wright, a sophomore from Okmulgee who plays Miss Penny Lane; Chenaniah Heath, a junior from Poteau who portrays Widow Piper; Chris McClendon, a junior from Ada who play Gonzorgo; and Steve Filkins, a senior from Ada who portrays Mr. Barnaby.
Various area children will play gypsies, zombie-like creatures and the Toyland Dolls.
The gypsies will be played by Alyssa James, Emily Ford, Serena Elliott, Maddie Smith and Kylie Miller. The zombie-like creatures will be portrayed by Josiah Schmitt, Ashton Ford, Elijah Smith, Mitchell Galbreaith and Conner Putegnat. The Toyland Dolls will be played by Paige Piper, Addie Schmitt, Mikayla Jones, Emma Clawson, Elizabeth Jones, Ava Bolin, Kellen Stuart, Lilly Harper, Alexander Wong, Rebekah Peters, Annabelle Peters and Addy Jones.
-ECU-