Miracle on 34th Street The Musical comes to Springfield for the holidays

Springfield Little Theatre brings classic film turned musical to the Landers Theatre stage November 27 through December 13. Miracle on 34th Street The Musical is a musical adaptation of the popular holiday classic film Miracle on 34th Street. Meredith Willson, the author of The Music Man and The Unsinkable Molly Brown wrote the music, lyrics, and book for this holiday masterpiece.

Kris Kringle takes on the cynics among us, just as he does in the film. In Willson’s inimitable style, the classic unfolds. A white-bearded gentleman claiming to be the real Santa Claus brings about a genuine Miracle on 34th Street, spreading a wave of love throughout New York City, fostering camaraderie between Macy’s and Gimbel’s Department Stores, and convincing divorced, cynical single mother Doris Walker, her somber daughter Susan, and the entire state of New York that Santa Claus is no myth.

Susan meets ex-marine Fred Gaily who takes it upon himself to rid her of her “realistic” outlook on life by taking the little girl to see Macy’s Santa. Kris (Santa) manages to win Susan over while love blooms between Fred and Doris. In order to prove that he really is Santa Claus, the action moves to the New York Supreme Court where Kringle, with the help of Fred, proves his sanity. In the conclusion, Fred uses the Post Office to prove to the Court (and the world) that Santa Claus does in fact exist, and that he is Kris Kringle.

Filled with humor, spectacle, and such beloved songs as Pinecones and Hollyberries, It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas and My State, My Kansas, this joyous, heart-warming musical is pure family entertainment, wholesome without being cloying.

The Springfield Little Theatre production is directed by Jamie Bower, Choreographed by Chyrel Mill. Music direction is by Susan Gravatt. Ron Seney plays the role of Kris Kringle, Genevievve Fulks is Doris Walker, Olivia Simon is Susan Walker, and Aaron Campbell is Fred Gaily.

Performances are November 27 through December 13. Purchase tickets in person at the Springfield Little Theatre Box Office at 311 E. Walnut, by phone at (417) 869-1334, or online at www.springfieldlittletheatre.org.

Springfield Little Theatre’s Miracle on 34th Street The Musical is underwritten by Central Bank, Positronic, Cox Health, Jeff Hammock—State Farm Insurance, Anderson Engineering, The Cup, KY3, KGBX, 417 Magazine, and Missouri Arts Council.

The Gayly – November 10, 2015 @ 1:45 p.m.