The Auburn Public Theater may be on its way to having its very own Christmas tradition.

The theater begins its second run of “A Child's Christmas in Wales” on Friday. The holiday play was an annual favorite in the Boston, Mass. area for 25 years, and the goal is to make it one in Auburn, according to the play's creators.

“When we first started doing the show (in Boston), families were coming with their kids,” said Polly Hogan, who adapted the play from the works of Dylan Thomas. “Near the end of the run, those children were coming back with their own children and their parents. I think the hope is to see a tradition like that start here.”

“A Child's Christmas in Wales” is a collection of episodes that take place between Christmas Eve and Christmas night in an early 20th-century Welsh household. It is named after one of Thomas' short stories, but it also draws from many of the Welsh author's other works, including his poetry and autobiographical pieces.

As one can imagine, all of the stories are about Christmas. But Hogan said that the original works touch on such universal ideas that even people who do not celebrate the holiday have told her they could relate to the play.

“You can take every reference to Christmas and replace it with just about anything,” Hogan said. “It is really more about family and friends, and having a hell-of-a good time.”

The play first opened at Boston's Lyric Stage in 1977 after Hogan, who also founded the theater company, was looking for a seasonal piece other than “A Christmas Carol.” She starred in the play with Lyric Stage co-founder Ron Ritchell, and the show was well-received.

“I don't know if we thought this would be something that would last for 25 years,” said Ritchell, who is starring in the upcoming production with Hogan. “But we saw that people were coming, and they came back for the second year. So we thought we would do it for a third.”

Angela Daddabbo, Auburn Public Theater's co-founder, caught the play in Boston during her second year in college. When she contacted Hogan and Ritchell to request the rights to show it in Auburn last year, they decided to one-up her request.

“We were very flattered when (Daddabbo) asked if they could do it,” Ritchell said. “So we thought, why don't we just come out and (direct and star in) it ourselves?”

Carey Eidel, the theater's co-founder and Daddabbo's husband, said that both of them are thrilled to have Hogan and Ritchell back for another year.

“They're professionals, and it is just a wonderful, wonderful family show,” said Eidel, who also has a role as Dylan Thomas' friend, Jim, in the play. “It is very touching, yet it is literary, too.”

Both Ritchell and Hogan said that it is not hard to get excited about the production, even after directing and performing in the same play for 27 years,

“I always say to myself, ‘Am I really going to like this again?'” Hogan said. “But then I hear the words, and I feel the emotions come over us.”

And it is nice to have a theater full of new faces, with many of them seeing the play for the first time, Ritchell said.

“I remember last year, the children were sitting on the floor, looking up at the stage,” he said. “You could hear their laughter right in front of you.”

Citizen staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net

If you go

What: “A Child's Christmas in Wales”

When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 21 and 22; 3 p.m. Sunday Dec. 23

Where: Auburn Public Theater, 108 Genesee St.

Cost: $15 general admission, $12 seniors, $8 students and children 12-and-under

For details: Visit www.auburnpublictheater.com or call 253-6669