Virgil’s Yellow Door Theatre Project is presenting the world premiere of an original Christmas musical, “Nobody’s Children,” Dec. 7 to 10.

The play, written by Lezlie Wade and Scott Christian, and directed by Kerry Ann Doherty, will be staged at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines.

Yellow Door artistic producer Andorlie Hillstrom said the professional-calibre production features 20 Niagara-area schoolchildren between the ages of 8 and 17.

“Nobody’s Children” tells the story of what happens when Mary Sharples takes a small detour on Christmas Eve not knowing it will lead her into a world of adventure, courage and friendship, Hillstrom said.

“Written in the vein of ‘Oliver!’ and ‘Matilda,’ this comedic musical, set in Victorian London, takes the audience on an exciting ride that straddles two continents,” she said.

“Loosely based on the tale of the Pied Piper, this adaptation includes an assortment of eccentric villains and a couple of heroes on a quest to save a group of orphans from being lost forever.”

Hillstrom noted the Yellow Door company owes a debt of gratitude to its sponsors – the Lauren and Vaughn Goettler Family Foundation, James A. Burton and Family Foundation and Bob and Lezlie Murch – for helping make the family-friendly production a reality.

Tickets are available now at the FirstOntario centre’s box office.