A Little House Christmas, a play with songs, adapted for the stage by James DeVita will be performed at Sierra Madre Playhouse on November 18. Based on the Little House on the Prairie series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and directed by Alison Eliel Kalmus, Musical director Ron Barnett and produced for Sierra Madre Playhouse by John Sparks, Christian Lebano and Estelle Campbell.

Sierra Madre Playhouse’s 2014 production of A Little House Christmas proved so popular, that they’re bringing it back in a new production with a new director and a new cast.

The Ingalls family has moved from the big woods to their little house on the prairie in Kansas. The family of pioneers is looking forward to the coming Christmas holiday. Anticipation is building as the day grows closer. We meet the Ingalls, Pa and Ma, sisters Laura and Mary, Uncle George (still traumatized from his time in the war), cousins Peter and Nick, and neighbors, Mr. Edwards, Mrs. Oleson, and her daughter, the original Mean Girl (and Laura’s nemesis) Nellie Oleson.

A torrential downpour and flash flood wipe out the bridge to town. That means that Santa Claus won’t likely be able to make it across the wild river to deliver his toys to the prairie. Will Christmas be ruined? Laura and Mary must use their ingenuity and resourcefulness if they will ensure that Pa and Ma won’t have a giftless holiday.

But wait, it’s Christmas! That’s a time for miracles, and there just may be one special miracle in store to ensure that a real Little House Christmas happens after all….and Laura will learn that she can have Christmas in her heart every day of the year.

Laura Ingalls Wilder (1867-1957) was famous for authoring the Little House series of nine autobiographical novels about growing up in pioneer days. The book entitled Little House on the Prairie was actually the third in the series; the title was made popular by a TV series adaptation that ran ten years. Four more books by Wilder were published posthumously. Several Little House Christmas story collections were compiled by commercial publishers after her death.

James DeVita has written this Little House stage adaptation. He is the author of twenty-five other plays, several of them adaptations of other classic family favorite stories, including Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, Treasure Island, Bambi- A Life in the Woods, Swiss Family Robinson, much more. Also an actor, he tours with a show called In Acting Shakespeare.

The Sierra Madre Playhouse presentation of A Little House Christmas is directed by Alison Eliel Kalmus. Her cast includes (in alphabetical order) Rich Cassone, Isa Eisenberg, Patrick Geringer, Valerie Gould, Katie-Grace Hansen, Evan Klein, Adam Krist, Rachel, McLaughlan, Sofia Naccarato, Samantha Salamoff, Barry Schwam and Amy Stapenhorst.

Ms. Kalmus’ previous directing credits include The Gondoliers, A Christmas Carol Story, A Christmas Memory, Aesopera, much more.

UCLA musicologist Lyndsey Strand-Polyak is the production’s consultant on music of the era, which will include vibrant fiddle and guitar playing as well as lively dance.

As with other recent Sierra Madre Playhouse productions, the lobby will include an informative display curated by Diane Siegel about the bygone days depicted in the show, designed to provide an enhancement to the theatergoing experience.

Choreographer/Stage manager: Kelsey O’Keeffe. Assistant stage manager: Jen Gies. Set design: Stephen Gifford. Lighting design: Shara Abvabi. Costume design: Tanya Apuya. Sound design: Chris Moscatiello. Properties: Emily Hopfauf. Technical director: Todd McCraw.

With a story that will warm your heart, and songs and singing to make the occasion bright, A Little House Christmas is a feel-good holiday treat.

A Little House will be performed November 18- December 23, 2016. Fri. & Sat. at 8:00, Sun at 2:30. Also performing at 2:30 on Sat. Dec. 10 and Sat. Dec. 17, and at 8:00 on Tues. Dec. 20, Wed. Dec. 21, and Thurs. Dec. 22. Final performance on Fri. Dec. 23 at 8:00. Admission: $34.50. Seniors (65+) $32. Youth (to age 21) $25.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit http://www.sierramadreplayhouse.org/.

Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, or call (626) 355-4318.