MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET Asks Theatre Arlington Audiences to Believe

The iconic holiday classic movie, Miracle on 34th Street, first brought joy into the hearts of millions in the summer of 1947. Although it was and is most definitely a Christmas movie, the original producers chose to release it in May because more people went to the movies in the summer. The fact that it was a Christmas movie was not even included in the marketing campaign. It was kept a secret! Hard to imagine that now, as it has become a holiday tradition for generations.

What would happen if Santa Claus were to walk among us? That's precisely what Valentine Davies' novel wants us to imagine. Miracle on 34th Street, The Play is taken from Davies' novel and is based on the hit Twentieth Century Fox movie and was first adapted for the stage by Mountain Community Theater in 1982. By chance (or is it?) an old white-bearded gentleman, Kris Kringle, gets a job working as Santa for Macy's Department Store. Sadly, as he spreads joy and good will throughout the store and eventually the city, he is only seen as delusional and dangerous by Macy's executives, ending up in a court competency hearing which puts one young girl's belief in Santa Claus at stake. Although this heartwarming tale was first penned more than 70 years ago, it still tugs at the heartstrings and hits home with heartwarming messages of love and generosity.

Miracle on 34th Street, The Play is directed by Larry Cure. After a very successful directing career at Martin High School in Arlington, Cure is making his Theatre Arlington directing debut with this show. He is Joined At The helm by stage manager, Bethany DuMond. The show features Eugene Chandler as Kris Kringle, Lucy Chambers as Susan Walker, Josh Batty as Fred Gayley and Taylor Staniforth as Doris Walker. Rounding out the cast are Lee Ann Ausec, Betty Shults, Samantha Turner, Tyler Thompson, Daniel Hernandez, Micah Green, Jesse Humphreys, Geoff Leonard-Robinson, Taylor Woodson, Aaron LeDay, Maxton Sims, Taylor Woodson, Samantha McKechnie, Whitney Blake Dean, J'Vette Helsel, Julia Helsel, Rylan Mooney, Truman Thompson, Andy Alamo, Elliot Haratine, Eric Helsel, Zelia Gourdon, Claire Donnelly, Kaelynne White, Justice Helsel, Liam Fletcher and Calleigh White.

Production team members also include Imani McCants (Assistant Stage Manager), Bryan Stevenson (Set and Lighting Designer), Bill Eickenloff (Sound Designer), Angie Glover (Scenic Artist), Cathy Pritchett (Properties Designer) and Karen Pierce-Burks (Costume Designer).

Miracle on 34th Street, The Play is sponsored by Greater Texas Credit Union and will begin delighting audiences on Friday, November 30th at 8:00pm. A post-show reception with the cast and crew will immediately follow the show. The reception is being sponsored by Urban Alchemy Coffee + Wine Bar and will include dessert provided by Cooper Street Bakery, the official bakery of Theatre Arlington.

Performances will continue through December 16th with our holiday show schedule:
Thursdays at 7:30pm
Fridays at 8:00pm
Saturdays at 2:00pm & 8:00pm (no 2pm performance on Dec. 1st)
Sundays at 2:00pm
*Added Performance: Sunday, December 9th at 6pm

*Appropriate for ages 6 and up*
Photos by Eric Younkin
Photo Credit 1: (left to right/back) Josh Batty, Taylor Staniforth
(left to right/front) Eugene Chandler, Lucy Chambers

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