BUCHANAN — In the dimly lit Tin Shop Theatre in downtown Buchanan, a group of actors ranging in age from school age to senior citizen shuffle about the stage in their everyday clothes getting ready for their next scene.

The actors take their last looks at the scripts and polish their lines, so that they can be ready for opening night of the the theater’s Christmas production this Friday.

The Tin Shop Theatre will host a Christmas program during the first two weekends of December. The play that will serve as the program will be “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” a play which follows the story of a family whose young daughter suffers from cancer and their church family who raises money for the child’s treatments, said Alice Kring, the show’s director.

The play will also feature recognizable Christmas tunes for the audience to enjoy, she said.

“It’s a really cute, charming play,” Kring said. “It’s about Christmas miracles and the meaning behind Christmas.”

Showtimes will be at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2, 8 and 9, with a 4 p.m. showing on Dec. 10. Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens and students and $5 for children under the age of 12.

The play was written by Kari Prouty, of Berrien Springs, who has acted in previous Tin Shop productions.

“She got the idea acting in plays here,” Kring said. “Once she wrote it, she really wanted to get it out there, so I said, ‘Why don’t we throw it at the Tin Shop board and see if they’ll go for it?”

The board loved it, and decided more than a year ago to feature “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” as the 2017 holiday production, Kring said.

Kring said she and the board fell in love with the play due to its theme and the fact that it is something they believe people can understand and relate to.

“It’s really touching and beautiful,” Kring said of the script. “Just the story and the fact that it was written by a local person really made us want to take it on.”

The cast has been working with Kring to bring the script alive since the end of September.

Though the preparation for the play has been a lot of work, it has been worth it, said cast member Marty Smith, who plays the role of Aunt Marty.

“This play is good to give some people some hope, which is what they need during the holidays,” Smith said. “I enjoy entertaining people and helping them get outside themselves.”

Both Kring and Smith said that they hope the community will turn out to see the play and enjoy it as much as they do.

“I’m excited for the community to see it and see their reactions and what they come away with,” Kring said. “I think [plays like “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”] just bring the community spirit together, so everyone can celebrate together.”