The Christmas in August dinner theater by Sing Hosanna! will present “Jingle Jury” for two seatings on Aug. 13.

The dinner followed by the musical, written by Jay Moriarty with music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur, will be at St. Peter Roman Catholic Church hall, 127 Franklin St.

The opportunity to sit and sip lemonade amidst a cast of Christmas characters is a recipe to beat the heat.

Mother and son team Alisha and Malachi Stephenson will portray Mrs. Clarissa Claus, and Santa Claus and the father.

“Mrs. Clarissa Claus is the 'judge' in 'Jingle Jury,'” said Alisha Stephenson. “She is portrayed as a sweet lady who is concerned for the lack of belief in Christmas that one of the children in Candy Cane Town has publicly stated.”

Stephenson of Butler is a childcare worker at Lifesteps and believes that is an asset to the role.

“I bring the motherly aspect to this role which is important,” she said.

She last was on stage as Mrs. Brill in “Mary Poppins” last fall with Sing Hosanna!

Her son Malachi, 14, an eighth-grade student at Butler Intermediate believes his looks are his advantage for the roles of Father and Santa Claus.

“I am an older looking 14 so that makes it a little more believable for the role of the father,” he said.

He is enjoying the fewer lines of this show compared to a regular performance and the theme also.

“It is fun to enjoy Christmas in the summer too. Plus you get food and a show,” he added.

The role of Jacqueline Frost is being portrayed by Nicole Ambrose 15, of Winfield Township. She is a sophomore at Knoch High School.

“She acts as the prosecuting attorney in this case,” Nicole said of her character.

“She is all about business and is trying to prove to Jim Dandy that Christmas spirit does exist,” she said. “Frost is very persuasive in her arguments and knows just the right witnesses to bring up to testify. I would like to say that I can relate to her quick and decisive nature that she uses to bring the truth to the surface.”

Jim Dandy will be played by Isaac Hixon, 9, of Forward Township.

“He is a boy that does not care about Christmas and could use some common sense,” Isaac said.

The fourth-grade Evans City Elementary School student was last seen on stage as Lefty in the Sing Hosanna! production of “Peter Panic.”

“Jim won't believe in Christmas because he thinks he needs to be tougher than everybody else. So he goes to a court, he meets reindeer, snow, and Tiny Tim,” Isaac said.

The requisite elf for the Christmas show is Eggbert the elf, being played by Maxwell McAuley, 16, of Jefferson Township. He will also play the Toymaker.

The Knoch High School junior is a regular with Sing Hosanna!

“I feel like I'm very comfortable with being wacky and silly that is required for Eggbert, and for the Toymaker I feel like I can really get into the character and his dialect,” Maxwell said.

He said he enjoys the dinner theater-style production.

“In a dinner theater, there's a lot more interaction with the audience and overall I think that makes it more enjoyable for everyone,” he explained.

Also appearing in the show are Dale Riemer; Abigail McAuley; Kim Bingham; Tommy Lynn Kilian; Macy Ambrose; Nathanael Archer; Conner Yelich; Than and Evie Archer; Trey, Leta, and Elizabeth Hixon; and a chorus of carolers.

WHO: Sing Hosanna!WHAT: Christmas in August dinner theater with the show “Jingle Jury”WHEN: Noon and 6 p.m. Aug. 13WHERE: St. Peter Roman Catholic Church hall, 127 Franklin St.TICKETS: $22 for adults and $7 for children 10 and younger. Advance tickets only, available through Wednesday, from cast members or at May’s Music ShoppeINFO: 724-287-8365