As the curtain parts for “Babes In Toyland,” you will first see an immobile Kaitlyn Royal dressed in a ballerina outfit and surrounded by some 40 shining youthful faces. The ballerina begins to perform some intricate ballet steps and the stage comes alive as the group breaks into song. For the next few hours you will meet Mistress Mary (Logan Tart), Widow Piper (Caitlin Joyner), the evil Barnaby( Alex Holland), and a host of others such as Little Boy Blue, Little Bo Peep, Little Miss Muffet, Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater, Goldilocks, Jack, Jill, and a large group of Dolls, Spiders, and Toy Soldiers as well as a master Toymaker. This delightful musical will hold its last three performances at the Sampson Community Theatre tonight and Saturday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m., with a 3 p.m. matinee on Sunday Dec. 13. This play is appropriate for all ages so load up all the family and get everyone into the Christmas spirit!!

The theater wishes to thank editor Sherry Matthews for her nice editorial about the Sampson Community Theatre and reporter Katie Holland for her article on some of the finer points of “Babes In Toyland.” Both of these articles were in last week’s Sampson Independents.

This will be the final show of 2009 which means it is time to renew your patron tickets. Our 2010 season has plans for some outstanding plays and your patron ticket will admit two people to all of them as well as having your name or business listed in every program. You may obtain a patron ticket by contacting a board member whose name is listed on our website at www.sampsoncommunitytheater.com or by calling the theater and leaving your name and phone number or you may contact me by e-mail at bruiser@intrstar.net

Don’t forget that auditions for “Ain’t Misbehavin” will be held beginning a noon on Saturday, Dec. 12 at the theater. Needed are actors age 20 to 50 who can sing and dance and who have an ear for harmony. This musical will be presented in the last weekend of January and the first weekend of February.

When you attend the theater you will see a group of granite plaques on the walkway under the marquee that are to be engraved with advertising and/or commemoratives. If you would like to have someone honored or remembered or your business name in front of a lot of people for a long time, with minimal expense, contact any board member whose name is listed on our website at www.sampsoncommunitytheater.com or call the theater and leave us a message.The proceeds will be used to upgrade our electrical wiring.

Upcoming Events

“Babes In Toyland,” Final performances Dec. 11,12 at 8 p.m. and Dec.13 at 3 p.m.

“Ain’t Misbehavin,” Auditions at noon on Saturday, Dec. 12, with show dates, the last weekend of January and first weekend of February 2010.

Also in 2010:(subject to change)”Never Too Late;” “Annie;” “12 Angry Men;” “Alladin Junior;” and a Christmas show to be announced later.

Thought for the Week

What you don’t see with your eyes, don’t witness with your mouth.

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.

You are destroying your enemies when you make friends of them.