ACT II Playhouse will present Theatre Arts Center premiere production of”Five Candles”, a holiday musical for the whole family from December 27-30. The show is written and directed by local playwright and actor John O’Hara of Skippack with a new music and lyrics by Cathy Block of Doylestown.

The play concerns Grandma, who has invited her five grandchildren over for holiday fun and magic. When Chris, the oldest boy, refuses to join in the festivities, it’s Grandma to the rescue who uses her special `Grandma magic’ to bring back his Christmas spirit. The show is for all ages.

Local veteran actress Peggie Walsh, a mainstay of the Bucks and Montgomery County theatre scene, portrays the wise and witty `Grandma’ while her real life husband Patrick appears as her magical friend. The Walshes have appeared in-Comedy Sportz, Town and Country Players and are well known as ballroom teachers at the Theatre Arts Center. `Grandma’ even gets a turn on the dance floor as the couple performs together in Five Candles.

The five cousins include local residents Michael Rodd (Kintnersville), Chloe Oppenheim (Furlong), Jill Stone (Doylestown) and real life siblings Becca and Hannah Steier (Doylestown). In continuing with the family theme, Lily Oppenheim (Chloe’s sister) and Dana Walsh (Pat and Peggie’s niece) join Jackie Agliata and Jade Hebling from Doylestown, Warrington’s Jaclyn Shihadeh and Sellersville’s Mitchell Yetter in the ensemble.

John O’Hara is a Barrymore nominated actor who has appeared at ACT II, Bristol Riverside Theatre, People’s Light, Walnut Street and the Wilma Theatre among others. He runs the New Play Reading Series at ACT II and is the resident playwright for Theatre Arts Center which has produced over twenty five of his plays. Cathy Block is an award winning composer and teacher whose work has been recorded by Kool and the Gang, Al Jarreau and Diana Ross.

Show times are December 27 at 7 PM, December 28 at 11 AM and 7 PM and December 30 at 11 AM and 2 PM. Tickets are available at the Act II box office, 56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler or on the web at www.Act2.org.