Little Lost Arts Theater presents “Madeline's Christmas”

Branchville — Amidst the high-tech toys, and svelte fashion dolls on many children’s Christmas lists this year, it’s good to know that lovable teddy bears, rag dolls, and good, old-fashioned storybooks are still holding their own. Little Lost Arts furthers the nostalgia through 17, when they present “Madeline’s Christmas,” a family musical, based on the best-loved storybooks of Ludwig Bemelmans, at the Ratsch Theater, 6 Broad St., in Branchville. Born in Austria, Ludwig Bemelmans worked as an illustrator, author, Broadway set designer and restaurateur in New York in the 1920s and ’30s. The murals he painted at New York’s Carlyle Hotel bar are still a tourist attraction, famous for their delightful whimsy. However, it was the success of “Madeline,” a simple story about a little Parisian girl, told in rhyme, that garnered Bemelmans the Caldecott Award in 1954, and led to his fame. Each of the seven “Madeline” books begins in the same way: “In an old house in Paris, that was covered with vines, lived twelve little girls in two straight lines ... the smallest one was Madeline.” With book and lyrics by Jennifer Kirkeby, and music by Shirley Mier, the one-hour musical is directed by Sheri Flannery-Verrilli, with accompaniment by Jo Ellen Livick, and a cast comprised solely of Sussex County children, including Kaya Jellinek as “Madeline,” Ellen St. John as “Miss Clavel,” and Josh Ernst, Caitlin Lubey, Kellen Wittrien, Sarah Cannavale, Kiersten Librizzi, Samantha Havens, Liah Paterson, Kristen English, Bea Cannavale, Sashal Hagan, Micael-Anne Verrilli, Shannon Havens, Justine Collins, Katie Ryan and Mallory Collins. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 15 and Saturday, Dec. 16; a matinee is on Sunday, Dec. 17. Tickets are $10 for ages 4-11, and $12 for ages 12 - adult. No children under four. Advanced tickets are strongly suggested for this 50-seat venue. For tickets or further information, call 973-875-5111 or visit www.littlelostarts.com.