Dear Houston’s First family,
There is something about Christmas that awakens the child in all of us. The lights. The music. The wonder of a gift waiting beneath the tree. And perhaps that is because Christmas has always been a story about a Gift.
This year, we invite you to step back with us into Christmas 1962 and the little town of Shepherdsville - a place where shopkeepers know your name, neighbors know your business, and two toy makers discover that some gifts aren’t wrapped beneath a tree.
The Story: TOYMAKER was born from a beautiful parallel found in the very first Christmas. Long ago, 2 kings stood on opposite sides of a manger. One was threatened by what it represented, the other willing to give everything for the people He loved. In Shepherdsville, echoes of that ancient story come to life in a fresh way, reminding us that the heart of Christmas has never really been about what we hold in our hands, but what God placed in a Manger.
This Christmas, you won't simply watch the story unfold; you will be Shepherdsville! You’ll be the audience in the Old Historic Shepherdsville Theater singing Christmas carols, the congregation shouting “amen" at First Baptist Shepherdsville, and counting down to The Annual Shepherdsville Christmas Tree Lighting with your neighbors and friends. As the music fills the air and the story comes to life, my prayer is that somewhere in the laughter, wonder, and unexpected moments, you see Christmas with fresh eyes.
Because before the lights, presents, and traditions, there was a manger. And in that manger was the greatest Gift the world has ever known.
Thank you for spending Christmas with us. Welcome to Shepherdsville – and welcome to The Story: TOYMAKER.
Jeff Bumgardner
Writer and Producer of The Story: TOYMAKER
Executive Pastor
FEATURING
Kevin Massey will be joining the cast of The Story: Toymaker this year at Houston's First Baptist Church.
His credits include Broadway: Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (Monty Navarro u/s), Memphis (Huey u/s), Tarzan (OBC & Cast Album, Tarzan u/s), Wicked (u/s Wizard, Dillamond, swing), Deaf West's Big River (Revival OBC, swing), and Antony & Cleopatra (Eros, NYCO at Carnegie Hall).
Off-Broadway: Bella: An American Tall Tale (Bonny Johnny/Snaggletooth, Playwrights Horizons, Cast Album).
Tours: Gentleman's Guide... (originated Monty Navarro, 1st National), Little House on the Prairie (originated Almanzo Wilder, 1st National, Paper Mill, Guthrie Theater).
Europe: Tarzan (Tarzan, Hamburg), Grease! (Doody).
Select Regional: Sunset Blvd. (Artie, North Shore MT), The Rivals, musical (originated Jack Absolute, BRT), Titanic (Bride, PCLO), Bonnie & Clyde (Ted, Asolo Rep), The Three Musketeers (originated D'Artagnan, Chicago Shakespeare), Pippin (Pippin, Utah Shakes & KC Rep). UNC Morehead-Cain Scholar.
TV: ABC's The Disney Family Singalong: Volume II, Tony Awards, NBC & CBS Macy's Day Parade.
Love my Kara, little guy and family.
@kcmassey1
Courtney Markowitz is thrilled to be joining the Houston's First Baptist family this holiday season.
Some Houston favorites include TUTS: White Christmas (Betty Haynes), Ragtime (Mother), Sweeney Todd (Beggar Woman), Cinderella (Stepmother), and Mary Poppins (Mrs. Banks). Also in Houston: Come From Away (Diane), ...Spelling Bee (Rona), and Miracle on 34th Street (Doris) at Stages, and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator) at AD Players. Her Broadway and national tour credits include Jekyll & Hyde, Spring Awakening, and Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway. Favorite regional credits include Legally Blonde (Vivienne) at Pittsburgh CLO and All Shook Up (Miss Sandra) at Artpark.
Courtney also served as Associate Director for Spring Awakening under Taibi Magar and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee under Dan Knechtges at TUTS.
As a vocalist, Courtney has performed as a soloist with the Houston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, and San Francisco Symphony, as well as for the Broadway Under the Stars concert series in Sonoma, California.
In her other life, Courtney works as a Real Estate Agent with Del Monte Realty (@theredheadedrealtor_).
Her proudest role is Mommy to Bernie & Frankie Carter — the greatest gifts of any holiday season. None of this happens without Quinn — I love you.
@courtcarts
Four Presentations
Houston’s First Baptist Church invites you to experience The Story: TOYMAKER this Christmas at The Loop Campus with four presentations to choose from.
Fri, Dec 11 - 7:30p
Childcare is available for Birth-3 years old
Buy Tickets
Sat, Dec 12 - 7:30p
Childcare is available for Birth–3 years old
Buy Tickets
TOYMAKER
CHILDREN'S BOOK
Keep the wonder of The Story: TOYMAKER alive long after the curtain closes with TOYMAKER, a beautifully illustrated children’s book adapted from The Story musical and written by Jeff Bumgardner & Marsha Taylor.
This timeless hardcover book is one families can read, share, and treasure for years to come. Filled with memorable characters, Christmas wonder, and enduring truth, TOYMAKER is a heartwarming story of community, forgiveness, friendship, generosity, and the transforming power of God’s love.
At its heart, TOYMAKER reminds children and families what Christmas is truly about: the greatest gift was never found beneath a Christmas tree. He came in a manger, and His name is Jesus.
A beautiful keepsake for your family and a meaningful gift for someone special, TOYMAKER invites readers of all ages to rediscover the joy, hope, and faith at the heart of Christmas. Preorder your copy and skip the lines at the merchandise tables while ensuring this treasured story is waiting for you when you head home.
Book is available for purchase
Hardcover $20
Pick up your copy before or after the performance
A FESTIVE MORNING OF CHRISTMAS CHEER!
The Story Character Brunch
Sat, Dec 12 @ 11:30a — The Loop Campus (Fellowship Ctr)
The Story Character Brunch is a special holiday event designed for families to enjoy a morning of fun, food, and festive memories together!
Enjoy a hearty brunch buffet, festive photo opportunities with beloved Christmas characters, and a special meet and greet with Santa Claus. Children will also receive a meaningful holiday giveaway as a reminder of God’s love and the gift of Jesus’ birth. Come share in the warmth, wonder, and faith-filled joy of this blessed Christmas event.
Tickets are $22 for children (12 and under) and $35 for adults. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged.
ARE YOU READY FOR THE STORY?
Tickets are required for admission to The Story and can be presented on a mobile device or printed out. If available, tickets can be purchased in the Main Lobby prior to each presentation.
The Story runs two hours and includes a 20-minute intermission. Worship Center doors open one hour before the presentation. We recommend arriving one hour prior to the presentation to allow plenty of time for parking, picture-taking, and to stop by CornerBooks.
Parking is available in the church’s West and South parking lots.
CHILDCARE
As a courtesy to others, we ask that guests register for childcare for children too young to sit quietly during The Story. If you choose to take your child to the presentation, all children ages 2 and older must have their own ticket. Children under the age of 2 do not need a ticket, but must sit in an adult’s lap.
Childcare is available during the 7:30p presentations on Friday and Saturday. Childcare opens 45 minutes prior to the presentation and is provided by paid and certified employees of Houston’s First.
Childcare is $20 per child. Registration can be made at the time of ticket purchase or in a separate transaction. Please have the child’s birth date available when registering. Registration closes at 11:59p on Mon, Nov 30.
Register Here
Four Presentations
Dec 11-13
Get Tickets
Houston’s First Baptist Church
The Loop Campus
7401 Katy Fwy
Houston, TX 77024
Get Directions
FAQs
THE STORY: TOYMAKER is an original Christmas musical, written right here at Houston’s First, that takes you back to Christmas 1962 and the little town of Shepherdsville — a place where shopkeepers know your name, neighbors know your business, and two toymakers discover that some gifts aren’t wrapped beneath a tree. It grew out of a beautiful parallel found in the very first Christmas, when two kings stood on opposite sides of a manger: one threatened by what it represented, the other willing to give everything for the people He loved. In Shepherdsville, echoes of that ancient story come to life in a fresh way. And this Christmas, you won’t simply watch it — you’ll be Shepherdsville, singing carols in the Old Historic Theater and counting down to the town tree lighting alongside your neighbors.
Four performances at Houston's First - The Loop Campus (7401 Katy Freeway), near the interchange of I-10 and the West 610 Loop.
- Fri, Dec 11 — 7:30p
- Sat, Dec 12 — 2:30p
- Sat, Dec 12 — 7:30p
- Sun, Dec 13 — 6:30p
Tickets are $10 to $40, depending on seat location.
Two hours, including a 20-minute intermission.
No one will put you on the spot. You'll stay right in your seat, but you're not just watching. You'll be the audience in the Old Historic Shepherdsville Theater singing carols, the congregation saying "amen" at First Baptist Shepherdsville, and the crowd counting down to the Annual Shepherdsville Christmas Tree Lighting. You become the town.
Worship Center doors open one hour before each performance. We recommend arriving about an hour early to allow plenty of time for parking, picture-taking, and shopping at our show’s toy store.
Yes! Parking is free and on-site, in the West and South parking lots at Houston’s First - The Loop Campus.
No. Tickets are required for admission, but you can show them on your phone or bring a printout - whichever you prefer.
If any are still available, yes! Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office in the Main Lobby before each performance. We'd encourage buying ahead, since performances can sell out.
It's written for all ages and families are very welcome. Keep in mind it runs two hours with an intermission, so if your little one isn’t quite ready for a long show, childcare is available for birth through age 3 at the Friday and Saturday evening performances.
Children ages 2 and older must have a ticket. Children under age 2 don't need a ticket but must sit in an adult's lap.
Yes! Childcare is available for birth through 3 years old, at the 7:30p performances on Fri, Dec 11 and Sat, Dec 12 only. Childcare is provided by paid and certified employees of Houston's First.
- $20 per child
- Reservations are required and close Mon, Nov 30 at 11:59p
- Reserve online
- Childcare opens 45 minutes before the performance
- Have your child's birth date ready when you register
Please finish any food and drinks before entering the Worship Center.
It's a separate ticketed event on Sat, Dec 12 at 11:30a in the Fellowship Center at The Loop Campus. There's a brunch buffet, festive photos with Christmas characters, a meet and greet with Santa, and a holiday giveaway for the kids. Tickets are $35 for adults and $22 for children 12 and under, and are sold separately from show tickets. Space is limited.
Yes. The Loop Campus has wheelchair-accessible seating, accessible restrooms, and accessible parking. For wheelchair-accessible seating, please call (866) 200-9569.
The show is in English, but all are warmly welcome. There are no translation services available for this show.
Not at all. Whether you've been here for thirty years or you've never set foot in a church, there's a seat for you. Come as you are.
Whatever you're comfortable in. You'll see everything from jeans to Christmas sweaters to suits.
All ticket sales are final. We are not able to offer refunds or exchanges. If you're choosing between performances, it's worth deciding before you check out.