The Butler Musical Theatre Guild is preparing a journey through history with its presentation of “Children of Eden” by Stephen Schwartz based on the book by John Caird.

The tale is a trip through the book of Genesis from the Bible and offers insight into possible back stories of the major players including Eve, Cain, and Noah and his wife, among others.

The show opens Oct. 12 at the Succop Theater at Butler County Community College.

Lacretia Crawford of Mars returns to MTG for the role of Storyteller in Act One and Mama Noah in Act Two.

“Mama is a wonderfully matched wife for Noah, and when his sense of direction is lost, she shows him the way,” said Crawford, who has wanted to be cast in this show since seeing it in 1999.

“She's a wonderful caregiver to her family, and although she doesn't often show her cards, when she does, it speaks volumes,” she said.

Crawford said she feels that Mama Noah in her own way carries the family from the depths of desperation to salvation. Strength and resilience are the attributes Crawford brings to this role. “The music and the storyline are stunningly beautiful and captivating,” she added.

Playing Eve, the biter of the forbidden fruit, is Whitney Angeloni of Butler.

“She is very curious and asks questions about everything in sight, She wants to know about life outside of the garden,” said Angeloni of her character.

Angeloni will play Eve in the three stages of her life. “The challenge is going through three ages in one act and trying to bring youthfulness, to young Eve, domestication to middle aged Eve, and wisdom as old Eve,” she said. “I'm so blessed to be given this opportunity. There is never a dull moment; this show is full of raw emotion and situations you will not want to miss.”

The star crossed lovers of the show are Japheth and Yonah played by Zachery Frye and Laurel Renee Wain.

“Japheth ... is the youngest son of Noah and he shows a sort of bravery about him and love for his mother,” said Frye who also plays Cain in Act One.

The roles are extremely different, but both men have something in common. “I feel I bring to both roles a sense of wonder to the world,” Frye said.

He last appeared in the role of Sky Masterson in the Butler Summer Dramatics production of “Guys and Dolls.”

Japheth falls in love with Yonah and wants to sneak her onto the ark, but she is marked as a descendant of Cain and therefore sentenced to perish in the flood.

“Yonah is a servant to Noah's family and is a descendant of the race of Cain. She is having a secret love affair with one of Noah's sons, Japheth, and the two are madly in love,” said Wain, who last appeared as Liat in “South Pacific.”

“Yonah is an extremely strong character, because though she knows she has to die in the flood and even though her ancestor chose an awful fate for her, she is very proud of who she is and is willing to die with a smile on her face.”

Returning to the stage for the first time since 2005 is Amy Cannard Bole of Chicora. She plays the role of Storyteller in part of the show but is most challenged by the music this go round.

“I have never worked on anything so complex, yet so beautiful and expressive,” Bole said.

She is happy to be back on the stage and to be working with Brady Patsy as director.

“Brady's favorite tenet for this show is 'The Journey' ... not only the journey each character takes in their life, but the journey each actor takes through the production process,” she said.

And though she brings decades of musical theater experience to this journey, she believes there is always something to learn. “Even after 46 years, there's always something new, especially the incredibly talented young people in this area, both onstage and backstage,” she said.

<B>WHO: </B>Musical Theatre Guild<B>WHAT:</B> “Children of Eden”<B>WHEN: </B>8 p.m. Oct. 12 and 13 and 3 p.m. Oct. 14<B>WHERE: </B>Succop Theater at Butler County Community College<B>TICKETS:</B> $17, available at May's Music Shoppe, 247 E. Jefferson St., during the hours of 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays<B>INFO: </B>724-287-8243