'Legend of Toyland' returns to delight young and old

It's an annual tradition that many feared wouldn't take place this year.

But "The Legend of Toyland" originator and director Lanny McAlister, who had a stroke this past spring, is recovering enough to brush aside any thought of taking a break.

After all, the show must go on.

"I am well enough to do 'Toyland' with a lot of assistance," said McAlister, who's wheelchair-bound and paralyzed on his right side but hopes to be out of the wheelchair in a few weeks.

"It's been hard but fun - a lifesaver for me. Did I ever think that I might not do it? Well, when the doctors said I had a 50/50 chance of surviving the stroke, I thought about it. But if I'm here, then I'm going to do 'Toyland.' "

McAlister and his brother, Jeff McAlister, are both music instructors at Northwest-Shoals Community College's Phil Campbell campus and have produced the musical extravaganza "Toyland" there for 26 years.

The usually sold-out performances have attracted a total of more than 290,000 people and should bring in more than 10,000 this year.

For many Shoals families, it's an annual holiday must-see - one that was iffy for awhile this year.

"After Lanny had the stroke, people were asking if we'd still do the show," Jeff McAlister said. "He's had to push himself to do it physically, but it's been a good push. He's really been the creative one."

"The Legend of Toyland" is a family-friendly musical revue featuring the singing and dancing talents of NWSCC students along with festive and imaginative costumes and sets.

And, as always, the big question is: What's new this year?

Jeff McAlister laughed.

"That's what everybody wants to know," he said. "It's really a paradox - people want new stuff, but when you do that you have to take something traditional out and people don't want you to take out your favorite part.

"We can't make it last any longer, so we have to cut some things. What we've done this year is put a few new things in. We juggle it every year. If your favorites are gone this year, just hang on and we'll probably put them back in."

One new thing this year is a chess match that Lanny

McAlister had wanted to do for a couple years, ever since he saw the costumes.

"The chess match tracks in with the whole Florence and Renaissance theme," Jeff

McAlister said.

"It's pretty creative. We were inspired by the costumes and had to find some way to work it in. You know, we sit around and brainstorm: 'Why don't we do that? Why can't we do this? Should we really have him do that?' It's hilarious."

One previous bit that's back - literally due to popular demand - is Elvis.

"Yes, Elvis can't leave the building," Jeff McAlister said. "He makes a return appearance. He was out for a few years, but people wanted him back."

The brothers do listen to audience feedback, he added.

"We go by what people tell us, so we want people to say what they like and what they want us to put back in," he said.

In fact, the production is as important to the audience as it is to the cast.

"The cool part is that I see people all over the place who say, 'I was so-and-so in 'Toyland,' and their eyes light up. It's such a great memory for them," Jeff McAlister said. "We're a two-year school, and I've had students stay in school longer just to be in it."

Work begins in the fall, when the Mcalisters host an informational meeting about that year's production. Later, there's a long day of auditions.

"Then, we assign the parts and make the rehearsal schedule and it goes to choreography. We don't put it all together until the week of production, which is pretty scary. That's not really a good way to do it, but we're so big now that we have to do it this way," Jeff McAlister said.

"This year, there are some things that I think are good and some new things that really are entertaining," Lanny McAlister said. "There's a lot of dance in it. I'm anxious to see it all put together. It's an old story, but a new one, too."

Cathy Wood can be reached at 740-5733 or cathy.wood@timesdaily.com