Dorrisville Baptist Church preparing Christmas musical

Under the direction of Rachyl Rister, the Dorrisville Baptist Kids Choir is preparing a gift for the entire community.

It is a Christmas pageant called "Back to the Manger" with a twist that is sure to make it interesting for kids and parents and grandparents.

In the storyline of the production the kids gain access to a time machine and travel back to the first Christmas, but not before making stops in the 1980s, 1970s, 1960s, 1950s, 1940s and other more familiar historical periods.

Not wanting to spoil the show for audience members we will say no more than that the costume department at the church did a great job on the costumes. Those kids really looked the part of those recent decades.

The group finally makes it back to the birth of Christ.

The rehearsal was fun and we plan to return to the church on Sunday, Dec. 21 to find out how the story ends.

Shows that day will be at 10:15 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the church located at 1300 S. Feazel St., Harrisburg.

The director is Rachyl Rister, a church member who performed under the direction of the long time Dorrisville music director Tommy Taylor when she was much younger.

"I enjoyed it so much I wanted these kids to have the same kind of experience," said Rister.

Taylor directed Broadway shows that played in Nashville.

The authors of the show "Back to the Manger" are Christy and Daniel Semsen. Rister found the script on the Internet. The choreography is Rister's creation as are many of the costumes.