'Toy Camp'
Sing Hosanna! is wrapping up some warm winter fun for the whole family in a winter dinner theater show which will present the musical “Toy Camp” and a homemade meal on Jan. 20.
“Toy Camp” by Paul Collette and Gary Fritzen features the characters Ted E. Bear, Princess Ann, Glow Toy and others as they attend Toy Camp. The goal is to earn price tags to be sold in a toy store and not end up at the Toy Dump. A subtle moral about confidence is woven into the family-friendly tale.
Anya Maschmeier, 12, a seventh-grade student at Seneca Valley Middle School, portrays a Teddy Bear in the show.
“I play a teddy bear who loves to box and fight, but does not know how to be comforting and loving like a normal teddy bear,” Anya said.
She said her character gets to live out a life lesson that she personally can relate to. “I enjoy the fact that you don't have to be like everyone else you can be your own person and that is what my character learns throughout the show,” she said.
She's been a part of Sing Hosanna! since 2016. “I didn't really know a lot about the show, but I knew that whatever it was, it was going to be fun because of the people doing it,” she added.
The role of Rover is being played by Camden Rockcastle, 14, a ninth-grader at Butler Intermediate High School.
“He is a stuffed toy dog who is trying to learn to be a kid's best buddy. He encourages the other toys to keep practicing being toys,” Camden said.
His favorite part of the character is the dog's transformation. “Rover sings 'Things Are Ruff All Over, Rover' and turns into Elvis while singing it,” he noted.
Leah Harris, 14, an eighth-grader at Slippery Rock Area Middle School, said she is delighted with the role of the teacher.
“My character is a philosophical teacher that is kind, caring and has the alter-ego of a scary witch,” said Leah, adding she enjoys being both evil and the character that everyone likes.
“This is a really cute show that is fun for the whole family,” she said.
The production also stars Conner Yelich, TommyLynn Kilian, Emma MacDonald, Olivia Slater, Kyleigh Spink, Sean Tweed, Alayna Bestwick, and Leta, Elizabeth, Isaac and Quintin Hixon.
Seating must be reserved before Jan. 17.
WHO: Sing Hosanna!WHAT: “Toy Camp” musical winter dinner theaterWHEN: noon Jan. 20 (doors open at 11:30 a.m.)WHERE: St. Peter's Parish hall, 127 Franklin St.TICKETS: $22 for adults and $7 for children age 10 and younger available in advance only by Jan. 17, at May's Music Shoppe or from cast members.INFO: 724-287-8362
