Imagination, family, and friendship are celebrated in Magical Theatre Company’s holiday production “The NeverEnding Story,” which opens Friday Dec. 6. The play is based on the 1979 children’s novel that explores the waning of youthful imagination in our modern world.

“The holidays are a magical and nostalgic time of year, and ‘The NeverEnding Story’ is the perfect way to celebrate with family and friends,” said director Holly Barkdoll. A 1984 movie of the same name has become a multi-generational favorite; the movie’s hit theme song was recently featured in the popular Netflix show Stranger Things.

Magical Theatre’s production captures the wonderment of childhood by utilizing the towering creations of master puppet maker Mark Jenks of Cleveland. His works of art have previously been seen in many past Magical productions including “Prancer, “Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe,” “BFG” and “Sleepy Hollow.”

For Magical Theatre, Jenks has created Falkor the flying luck dragon, Morla the giant talking tortoise, the heroic horse Artax, and many other fantastical creatures. The cast includes Noah Casino, Adam Hoffman, Kendall Ackerman and Craig Raymaley, from Cuyahoga Falls; Madison Kohler and Noah Villers, from Barberton; Bailey Best, Leah Greczanik and Annabelle Neumann, from Wadsworth; Amanda Kidd, from Kent; Mark Ross, from Akron; Sherrie Tolliver, from Cleveland; Hayden Mickel, from Copley; and Dennis O’Connell, from Canton.

Performances include: Friday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 7, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec, 8, at 2 and 4:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 14, at 2 and 7:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 15, at 2 and 4:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 and $17 per seat. Opening night tickets are $17 and $19 per seat and include a post-performance reception. Tickets are available online at www.magicaltheatre.org or by calling (330) 848-3708.

The production is geared toward families with children ages 8 and up. All performances take place at the Park Theatre 565 W. Tuscarawas Ave., in Barberton.