Wednesday, November 23, 2005

'Babes in Toyland' marches into Macey

Shawna Carter New Mexico Tech

New Mexico Tech's Performing Arts Series invites you to kick off your holiday season with a presentation of Victor Herbert's classic operetta "Babes in Toyland ,"on Sunday, Nov. 27, 3 p.m., in Macey Center.

Tickets cost $16 for adults, $14 for seniors over 65 and $12 for youth. They are available at the door, or can be purchased in advance from the New Mexico Tech Bookstore, New Mexico Tech Cashier's window (basement of Brown Hall), Sofia's, Brownbilt

Western Wear, Video Shack and Gallaher Realty, in Magdalena. Admission is free to current New Mexico Tech students enrolled in six or more hours. Students can pick up their tickets, with a valid student ID, from the New Mexico Tech Bookstore.

"Babes in Toyland" will be performed by Troupe America Inc. The acting troupe was established in 1987 by director/producer Curt Wollan.

Troupe America will be performing an updated version of the original "Babes in Toyland" operetta, which will feature such popular tunes as "March of the Toy Soldiers," "Toyland, Toyland," as well as additional songs from other popular Victor Herbert musicals.

The updated version will be fun for the whole family, as fantasy and reality are woven into a world where toys walk, talk, and sing.

In the original operetta "Babes in Toyland," Victor Herbert wove elements of Mother Goose nursery rhymes into a fantasy world. Two children, Little Jane and Little Allen, are swept into this fantasy world full of wonder and amazement.

"Troupe America Productions has brought other outstanding productions to Socorro, like "A Christmas Carol" and "1940s Radio Hour," says PAS Director Ronna Kalish. "Their shows are always great and I expect this one to be no exception."

Troupe America calls the Twin City area their home. They operate the Plymouth Playhouse in Plymouth, Minn. Since their establishment, the troupe has performed many successful off-Broadway productions including: "Nunsense," "Pump Boys and Dinettes," "Little Shop of Horrors," "An Evening with Groucho," and "How to Talk Minnesotan, the Musical".

"Babes in Toyland" coincides with Socorro's Balloon Rally, Nov. 25-27. Rally activities will be ending just prior to the show.

Kalish explains, "We hope people will enjoy a Sunday matinee of 'Babes in Toyland' after the Balloon Rally. It will round out their Thanksgiving weekend and kick off the Christmas season, plus get the kids to bed early.

"The fact that it is a matinee is no statement on the size or quality of the production," Kalish adds. "This is a fully staged show, with live music, beautiful sets and costumes, dancers, the whole works — an incredibly beautiful holiday musical."

First State Bank, Holiday Inn Express in Socorro, and Gallaher Realty are sponsoring the performance.

For more information, contact the New Mexico Tech Performing Arts Series at 835.5688 or pas@admin.nmt.edu. A complete schedule of events is online at nmtpas.org.

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