OXFORD – The Oxford Civic Theater will debut this weekend on the high school stage with “The Last Doll, A Christmas Musical.”

The sole public performance takes place at 3 p.m. on Sunday in the high school’s Performing Arts Auditorium. Cast members for the production include a mix of students and community members.

Set in 1950s New York City, the play tells the story of 13-year old Eugenia Standish (Erica DeWispelaer), whose only friend is a life-sized doll named Tilly (Olivia Powell). Eugenia’s grandmother, Mrs. Standish (Donna Cuyle), does not approved of her ward’s companion and orders her servants to remove the doll to the basement on Christmas Eve. With the magic of the holiday in the air, strange things begin to happen.

Additional cast members include Reverend Allan Lang as Arnold, Hailey Branham as Hilda, Dylan Nesbit as Edward and Kasey Heisler of Greene as the Narrator.

According to local playwright Fred Dankert, who wrote the short play 47 years ago, this is the first time the work will be performed as a musical production. Musical direction will be undertaken by Diane Thorne, who composed the score’s 10 original songs.