CAST MEMBERS — Cast members and their roles in the 2022 production of “Wooden Heart Follies,” which will be presented at the Steubenville Masonic Temple at 227 N. Fourth St., Steubenville, on Dec. 1 and 2 at 6:30 p.m. and on Dec. 3 and 4 at 4 p.m. are, front row, from left, Douglas Davidson (Emcee); Tamara Lehew (The Baker); and Hope Sirilla (Clara); middle row, Von Holmes, (director and Grandma Nutcracker); Mary Engle (The Gondolier); Madeleine Doyle (Adelaide the Schoolteacher); and John Holmes (Patrolman Holiday); and back, Susanne Manocchia (musical director); Rich Ivaun (the Mad Scientist); and Roberta Fedoush (accompanist). Rob DeSantis is St. Nicholas. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — “See the nutcrackers come to life!

“Hear the familiar holiday music of Tchaikovsky!

“Laugh at the goofy modern lyrics!

“Welcome the Christmas season with musical family fun!”

Promotional fliers herald the return of “Wooden Heart Follies,” the original Steubenville Nutcracker musical, and so do John and Von Holmes of Steubenville, directors and cast members of the production that will be presented to audiences at the Steubenville Masonic Temple at 227 N. Fourth St., Steubenville.

The dates are Dec. 1 and 2 at 6:30 p.m. and Dec. 3 and 4 at 4 p.m.

The Dec. 1 show is free to the local community with all other shows requiring an admission of $10 for adults and $5 for children age 12 and younger. Tickets for the Dec. 1 production must be reserved for the audience count.

Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com under “Wooden Heart Follies.” For information, check out the Facebook page, visit the website woodenheart.follies.com or e-mail woodenheartfollies@gmail.com.

“After a five-year hiatus, ‘Wooden Heart Follies’ returns to Steubenville,” commented Von, noting she and her husband are excited to be bringing their family-friendly Christmas musical, featuring the Steubenville Nutcrackers, back to the area. The play is appearing once again in connection with the Steubenville Nutcracker Village as it did in 2016 and 2017.

The production brings to life nine nutcrackers who show the hilarious mayhem that is a result of one of them who falls in love with a human. The music is Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” with comic lyrics.

Neither Von nor John is new to the theater.

Both have studied drama, Von at Columbus College, Georgia and Franciscan University of Steubenville, and John at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, N.Y.

Von was seen on the local stage in the 1970s with the Steubenville Players and in the 1990s with Stages of Steubenville and Franciscan University.

John has directed with Stages of Steubenville and at Franciscan University and has acted in multiple shows through the years, most recently in EWTN’s “Saints vs. Scoundrels.”

The couple appeared in the 2016 and 2017 production of “Wooden Heart Follies” and will again serve as directors and members of the cast.

“This year there are plans to make a professional video to post online to promote Steubenville’s revitalization,” Von explained, emphasizing that “This show is being presented solely through sponsorships and donations. No playwright or cast member will receive any monetary compensation. Please consider helping to bring this to the area.”

Sponsors and donors can contribute through a Steubenville nonprofit, the Steubenville Cultural Trust, a 501(c)3 (TIN 87-1108448), by using a credit or debit card or PayPal online through PayPal (select “Wooden Heart Follies” in the drop down menu and add “Wooden Heart Follies” in the memo box) https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=J2FY8M5DAJHTC or by sending a check made out to Steubenville Cultural Trust with “Wooden Heart Follies” in the memo line, to P.O. Box 972, Steubenville, OH 43952.