The Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County and Music Theatre Louisville Present: MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, THE RADIO PLAY, Opens 11/4

It's not often that a film goes on to be ranked by the American Film Institute (AFI) as one of the most inspiring movies. But if you look at AFI's "100 Years, 100 Cheers: America's Most Inspiring Movies", the award for 9th place goes to Miracle on 34th Street. However, during production of the 20th Century Fox project, ‘Miracle' was considered a disaster in the making. Starring then child actress Natalie Wood, Maureen O'Hara, John Payne and Edmund Gwenn; Miracle on 34th Street took a page out of the history books and created a fantastical storyline based around the Macy's and Gimbels Department Store rivalry of the 1940's.

With its huge production pricetag and its hard sell fantasy plot, neither Macy's or Gimbels were willing to put their names on the line without both signing off on the final cut. As inspiring as the movie itself, both retailers loved the finished product and ‘Miracle' was released in the spring of 1947. The gamble sure paid off and ‘Miracle' went on to win several Academy awards, including Best Original Story and Best Screenplay, and continues to inspire generation after generation. After several remakes, including television, film and stage adaptation, one of the most cleverly produced re-makes was that of Lux Radio Theater, and their 1948 Radio Broadcast.

This December, Music Theatre Louisville will re-create the broadcast live on the Bomhard stage! Complete with Foley artist sound effects and cleverly scripted commercials, Music Theatre Louisville will transform the theater into a radio studio and invite the audience to become part of the magic. It may not be the big screen, but the timeless story of the man who calls himself Kris Kringle, and his unusual determination to spread the spirit of Christmas rings true. With the universal theme of hope in times of uncertainty, Miracle on 34th Street is one not to miss!

Tickets are $15.75. Call 502-584-777, 800-775-7777, 502-562-0730 (TTY), or online at www.KentuckyCenter.org to purchase. Audio Description, Caption Theater and American Sign Language will be offered Sunday, December 13 at 4 p.m. American Sign Language must be reserved 2 weeks prior to the performance or the service will be cancelled. Access Services are providing through an outreach service with The Kentucky Center.

Sponsored by The Horseshoe Foundation of Floyd County.

Music Theatre Louisville receives support from the Fund for the Arts, Kentucky Arts Council, AEGON, Brown-Forman, PNC Bank, Almost Family, The Ar-Hale Foundation, Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare, The Courier Journal, and Publishers Press. Capital Support provided by V.V. Cooke Foundation, Hilliard Lyons, Councilmen Rick Blackwell, and Councilman Ken Fleming.