PEEF The Christmas Bear Comes to Stages Theatre Company 11/18

This holiday season gets a lot more colorful when PEEF the Christmas Bear comes to Stages Theatre Company (STC) in "A Silent Night for PEEF," a world premiere, musical production opening Nov. 18 at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.

Written by local author Tom Hegg and illustrated by Warren Hanson, "A Silent Night for PEEF" is the second book in this popular series published by Tristan Publishing. PEEF the Christmas Bear was created from scraps of material provided by Santa's elves. After a wonderful beginning to his life at the North Pole, Santa asked PEEF to become a special gift to a lonely child. PEEF, of course, said yes. Now Santa visits PEEF to see how things are going for his creation. What he finds is not what he expects: a torn, dirty toy who has lost his voice.

"'A Silent Night for PEEF' is my personal favorite of the four PEEF books. It was no coincidence that I wrote it just as my son, Adam, was preparing to leave home for college. The story is all about letting go of the child you love when the time comes," says Tom Hegg.

This production, much like the first ("PEEF the Christmas Bear"), has a special connection for Tom's son. "When I adapted the second PEEF book my world looked very different than it did in 2008. Most importantly my wife, Breanne, was pregnant when I started sketching out the story for ‘A Silent Night for PEEF.' I finished the final draft with Imogen Beatrice Hegg, just a few days old, in my lap," says Playwright Adam Hegg.

Upcoming events for "A Silent Night for PEEF" include an appearance at the Mall of America on Tuesday, Dec. 6 for Toddler Tuesday with sample performances at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.; a book signing with Author Tom Hegg, Illustrator Warren Hanson and Playwright Adam Hegg following the Friday, Dec. 9 evening performance at Stages Theatre Company and a Story Time with Tom and PEEF at the Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul on Friday, Dec. 16 beginning at 7 p.m.

"A Silent Night for PEEF" begins Nov. 18 and ends Dec. 26 and tickets can be purchased by visiting www.stagestheatre.org for performance dates and times, or by calling the Box Office at (952) 979-1111, Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for children (ages 5 to 17) and seniors (60+). Lap passes are available for free (ages 0 to 2) and $5 (ages 3 to 4).

Stages Theatre Company was founded in 1984 and since then has grown to become one of the largest professional theatres for young audiences in the country. We engage young artists with themes relevant to their lives and involve them in creating magical works featuring young people in meaningful roles. Through theatrical productions, workshops, conservatory classes and other outreach programs, Stages Theatre Company annually serves more than 130,000 young people and their families.