American Girl doll comes to life in musical tour

The show will launch Dec. 13 in Ohio and continue to 47 U.S. cities

The timing couldn’t be better for the American Doll lover in the family.

The Mattel-owned American Doll brand has announced that just in time for gift-giving, American Girl Live will hit the stage for a U.S.-wide tour.

The show will launch Dec. 13 in Ohio.

So far, 47 cities have been booked across the country — none of them Canadian — with multiple shows in several cities.

But the website says to check back often as additional cities could be added.

The 18-inch doll and book se- ries has been beloved by children and adults for three decades.

It’s second only to Barbie when it comes to the collectible market.

When the American Girl dolls first hit the market in 1986, it was because creator Pleasant Rowland found dolls for girls were lacking any sort of cultural substance.

The creators of American Girl Live also are breaking new ground.

The cast and crew, from top to bottom, is all female.

According to a news release: “The robust group of women behind this production continues to prove that women belong in positions of power and creativity, and what better world to create together than the girlcentric, girl-positive world of American Girl.”

The musical, described as Broadway-style, is inspired by six popular American Girl characters: Rebecca (1914), Nanea (1941), Maryellen (1954), Melody (1964), Julie (1974) and Luciana (2018).

In the story, six campers arrive at sleepover camp with their American Dolls, of course. Through original songs, the summer unfolds with tales of bravery.