MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET: A MUSICAL is Shire Music Theatre’s production of a holiday classic from the writer of THE MUSIC MAN and based on the movie of the same name, book and score by Meredith Willson.
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET: A MUSICAL is based on the 1947 classic film starring Maureen O’Hara, Natalie Wood, Edmund Gwenn and John Payne.
The production revolves around an elderly gentleman who believes he is the real Santa and a little girl who learns to have faith in the magic of the Christmas season. In this Christmas classic, Kris Kringle, played by Rod Herbert, fills in for an intoxicated Santa in the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, being arranged by Doris Walker, played Louise Jaques, and her clumsy but lovable side kick Marvin Shellhammer, played by Tim Wright.
Kringle soon gains both popularity and love with children and adults alike at the chain’s main store in midtown Manhattan. Mr. R.H. Macy being played by Neil Litchfield offers him a life time contract to be the stores Santa Claus. A notion that Kringle says in “a little impractical”.
When Kris meets Mrs. Walker’s 6 year old daughter Susan, played by Gabrielle Dagger, he learns, due to her mother’s misgiving and no nonsense attitude, she has rejected all notions of belief and fantasy and does not believe in Santa Claus or the magic of Christmas. Kris decides he must prove to Susan that Santa is real and so is the love brings the magic of Christmas together.
To do this Kris must get Susan to believe that he really is Santa Claus, something that makes people think he’s mad. He is sent to Macy’s Psychologist Mrs. Sawyer who is determined to have Kris locked away in Bellevue for being crazy. Doris later convinces Judge Grout, played by Donna Brotherson, to hold an competency hearing to determine Kringle’s sanity and on whether he could possibly be who he says he is.
Kringle is represented by Fred Gaily, played by Dean Irwin, who has just left the military and has almost finished his law degree. Gaily is determined to prove Kringle’s sanity in hope that it will also help him win the heart of the woman he loves, Doris Walker.
Directed by Michael Astill, Choreographed by Nikki Newman with Musical Direction from Lizzie Bridges, Miracle on 34th Street has an ensemble cast of almost 40 performers. This all singing all dancing production will delight audiences both young and old.
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET: A MUSICAL from Shire Music Theatre [Facebook] plays October 12th – 21st, 2018