Harvest Christian Academy presents 'You Can't Take It With You'

Harvest Christian Academy in Elgin will put on its winter play, "You Can't Take It With You" at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Dec. 6-7, and 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 9, in the chapel, 1000 N. Randall Road. Tickets are $10, $8 for seniors or $5 for students; $12 at the door.

This comedy begins with a bang as the audience takes a glance into the lives of the Sycamore family - a happy, fun loving household. Upon closer glance, you begin to realize that this family has quirks unlike any family you have ever met. The show portrays the love story between Alice Sycamore, played by 12th-grader Taylor Seals, and Tony Kirby, played by 10th-grader Micah Steiner, and how their romance is anything but typical. As Tony falls deeper in love with Alice, he falls in love with her family - dancing Sister Essie (Olivia Daoud, 10th grade), Essie's musical husband Ed (Zack Bulatek, 12th grade), dance teacher Kolenkhov (Noah Depledge, 10th grade), playwriting mother Penny (Alexa Pupich, 10th grade), snake-obsessed grandfather Martin (Sam Jenkins, 12th grade), and firework enthusiast Aunt Pauline (Grace Wilken, 12th grade).

Alice and Tony's relationship highlights the message of this comedy - how love and pride in one's family are some of the most crucial treasures in life. "Family is the most important thing to you," says Alexa Pupich. "Though they can be really embarrassing sometimes and you can fight with them, at the end of the day they're the people that will be with you forever and love you always." After a surprise or two, Tony manages to reveal to Alice the value of family ties, and how relationships with loved ones are far more essential than what is tangible.

The show is directed by HCA Theater Arts Director Sara Yun, who says the show teaches, "(The) importance of what is essential while we're here ... how if you have ten minutes to grab what you can keep, what would you grab? You would want to grab family, pets, photo albums, and things that mean a lot to you. What you would not grab are your bills, work, or all of your laundry, yet we spend so much of your time focused on those things."

"You Can't Take It With You" reveals how materialistic things on earth are not what is most important, while simultaneously encouraging a good laugh or two. "It's got heart, it's sweet, and it's funny," says senior Sam Jenkins. "It's for all audiences, and is just a very sweet message about family, commitment, and how there is nothing you can take with you."

For information, visit www.harvestchristianacademy.org.