Kenny Rogers on the road again (2003)

NEW YORK (Kenny Rogers Official Website) - Kenny Rogers is in the midst of his popular Christmas tour which includes the play The Toy Shoppe. This is Rogers's fifth year of performing the play, which he co-wrote.

The legendary singer said about The Toy Shoppe: "It's a story about a toy shop and it's kind of the proverbial tradition versus art, you know--progress. I own this toy shop that's been handed down from generation to generation, and I'm about to lose it to a burger joint cause I can't pay my bills. It requires a miracle that happens, and the miracle kind of incorporates the use of an angel, a little girl who's 13 who comes in because goodness will always prevail at Christmas time, and so she finds a way to make this thing happen, but it's a very, very sweet story."

According to Rogers official website, last year was supposed to be the end for The Toy Shoppe, but heavy demand from fans changed his mind, he explains.
"We weren't gonna do it again this year, but the response was so good last year. Actually, even in markets we'd been in, we picked up attendance, and we're going into a lot of markets we haven't been in before so, I'm like NBC. It you haven't seen it, it's new to you, but it's really a very special piece of material. It's a wonderful little story that I think if you get a chance to see it--actually, there's a good chance, a better than average chance--we may do it as a made-for-TV movie this year, so I'm excited about that too."

The Toy Shoppe wraps up December 21 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Rogers's regular tour dates resume January 18 at the Grand Theatre in Biloxi, Mississippi.