Sing Hosanna! is in the final stages of preparation for its fall show, “Oliver” which will open Nov. 19 at the Succop Theater at Butler County Community College.

From “Oliver Twist,” the second novel by English author Charles Dickens, the musical tells the tale of an orphan who escapes from a workhouse and ventures to London where he meets the Artful Dodger, leader of a gang of juvenile pickpockets.

This production is quite a family affair for some of the players.

Evie Fox of Butler Township will be featured in her first lead role when she stars as Oliver. The fifth grader from Meridian Elementary School will share the stage with her brother, sister and father.

This isn't the first time director Ralph Christy Jr. has cast a girl to play the role of the boy Oliver.

“The auditions were tight but I thought she embodied the innocence that I was looking for,” Christy said.

“Dancing like a boy is a bit of a challenge,” Evie said. “The coffin scene is probably the most difficult part of my role. Getting in and out of it is going to be tough.”

Her sister Allison, an eighth grader at Butler Junior High School, is in the chorus and ensemble.

“My favorite number is ‘Who Will Buy?' all the voices at the beginning are just perfect,” Allison said.

Their brother, Nolan, a sophomore at Butler Intermediate High School, plays the role of Mr. Sowerberry.

“I did not audition for this role. I had no specific role in mind, but I was asked to sing the song that Mr. Sowerberry sings in the musical, and then I was asked to play the role,” he said.

“The most fun thing about this role is the character. The voice I have to use and the way I have to act challenges, enlightens and delights me making it fun,” he added.

Their father, Dave Fox, plays the Doctor.

The key role of the Artful Dodger is played by Andrew Stock, also a sophomore at Butler Intermediate. He will be sharing the stage with his three brothers.

“The last time Sing Hosanna! did ‘Oliver' it was my first time on stage,” said Stock who was in second grade back then.

“I really enjoy my costume in this role and the song, ‘I'd Do Anything for You,'” he said. “‘Consider Yourself' is probably my most trying number as it is long and the dancing intense.”

Rachel Creaturo of Penn Township will be seen in the role of Nancy, girlfriend of bad boy Bill Sykes. Her daughter Jacqui, a seventh grade student at Knoch Middle School, plays Nancy's good friend, Betsy.

“It is a challenge to play an abused person, because I have no experience with that sort of thing,” said Creaturo who played the same role in her high school production back in 1986.

The character of Nancy is feisty but is victimized by her boyfriend, Bill. “I like that she thinks everyone is redeemable, but not that she allows herself to be repeatedly abused,” she said.

This is not the first time she will share the stage with her daughter, but this is a bit different because they are equals.

“When I've been on stage with my mom before, I've always been a kid and she a superior,” Jacqui said. “In this show, we are equals, friends, and I enjoy it.”

The duo sings “It's a Fine Life” together.

The nasty character of Bill Sykes is being readied by Scott Shearer of Cabot, who has not played a bad guy very often.

“The last bad guy I played was Gaston. Being bad is not as much fun as being funny,” Shearer said.

Shearer will appear with three of his daughters in this production. “Channeling my inner demon is really quite challenging. He is a very dark character,” Shearer said of Sykes.

Besides the role of Sykes, the other pivotal role of Fagin, leader of the band of juveniles, is being played by Eric Snyder, who said he is enjoying the experience.

“I really enjoy being with the kids. The songs are great and the kids really are doing a fabulous job,” Snyder said.

Christy said the number of elementary age youngsters made “Oliver” the right show to present.

“I foresaw some of the casting of the leads as the kids were growing up. This show has the most elementary numbers so it is perfect for the ages we had available,” he said.

The show includes a cast of more than 60 with more than half of them being children.

Christy said that his approach to the show is not as dark as Dickens' saga.

“The world is dark enough,” he said. “We've lightened the show up a bit with costumes and colorful sets, yet staying true to the story.”

<B>WHO: </B>Sing Hosanna!<B>WHAT: </B>Musical “Oliver”<B>WHEN: </B>7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 and 20 and 2 p.m. Nov. 21<B>WHERE:</B> Succop Theater at Butler County Community College<B>TICKETS:</B> $10 for children age 10 and younger and $15 for all age 11 and older. Tickets available at May's Music Shoppe, 247 E. Jefferson St.<B>INFORMATION: </B>724-287-8362