Playwright Adam Hegg hopes his latest project is a perfect Christmas gift for his father.
This week, Hegg's adaptation of "PEEF The Christmas Bear" opens at Stages Theatre Company in Hopkins.
Those familiar with the book may recognize the name - Hegg's father Tom collaborated with illustrator Warren Hanson to craft the children's book.
In fact, the elder Hegg wrote it as a sort of gift to his son when Adam went off to college.
So, no pressure at all.
"I was nervous about showing it to him," Hegg said last week before one of the production's final rehearsals. "It was at the stage when I had to show it to the publisher for approval, so I thought he should see it."
The nerves dissipated after Hegg got the OKs. "He really liked the script," he said.
That's not the only family connection in the production. Composer Michael Mahler's mother, Marilee, directs the production.
In the case of the Mahlers, both have worked together previously, so separating family from work wasn't difficult, and neither was it for the Heggs.
"My father gave me very specific notes about my script," said Adam Hegg.
Mahler had no problems with the music her son crafted for the show, which embraces a number of styles while still sounding like a cohesive set of songs.
Adapting a picture book for the stage is always challenging, as pieces of the stories left implied in the story or illustrations need to be fleshed out.
Hegg worked through several drafts searching for the right balance of work from the original and from his own imagination. In the end, he believes he found a balance that stays true to the spirit of the book, while also expanding it for the stage.
That spirit lies at the heart of the story, which tells the tale of PEEF, a toy bear given as a gift to Santa. After hearing the wishes of a young boy, Santa decides to give a gift truly from his heart and give the bear away.
The idea of giving a gift from you - of a kind of sacrifice - is an important message, both Hegg and Mahler said.
Which doesn't mean the show will be heavy sledding for the children and adults who come to see it in the coming weeks.
There are plenty of bright characters, music and setting throughout the piece. "It's the first time Santa has ever been portrayed on stage at one of our shows," Mahler added.
