Arizona Broadway Theatre Presents MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET and THE SANTALAND DIARIES This Holiday Season

Come see THE Santa Claus this Christmas! Based on the beloved classic film, Miracle on 34th Street tells the tale of last-minute Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Santa-replacement Kris Kringle, who may or may not be THE Santa Claus, and the people who take him in. Filled with humor, spectacle, and treasured songs such as My Wish, Expect Things to Happen, and It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, this festive, heart-warming musical is a must-see for the family this holiday season. Miracle on 34th Street is sponsored by MACY'S (Macy's Gives).

Crowd favorite James Rio (Scrooge, A Christmas Carol the Musical; Don Quixote, Man of La Mancha) returns to direct this holiday classic having previously directed ABT's productions of Camelot, Les Mis, and The Sound of Music. Choreographer Heather Adams (Camelot, King & I), Music Director Joshua Condon (Sweeney Todd), and Scenic Designer Kara Thomson (Man of La Mancha, Camelot, Lucky Stiff) are also making their return to ABT.

The cast features MJJ Cashman (Tarzan, Singin' in the Rain) reprising his role as Kris Kringle. Melissa Mitchell (Titanic, Sweeney Todd, Mary Poppins, The Bridges of Madison County) is Doris Walker, and Ava Newton (Oliver!, A Christmas Carol the Musical) and Emily Grace Anton (ABT debut) will share the role of Doris' daughter, Susan. Fred Gaily will be played by Cody Gerszewski (Show Boat).

Other returning ABT alums include Andy Meyers (Titanic, The Bridges of Madison County, A Christmas Carol the Musical, Man of La Mancha) as Marvin Shellhammer, Tony Blosser (Show Boat, Man of La Mancha, A Christmas Carol the Musical) as R. H. Macy, Tim Shawver, Aaron McCaskill, Katy Callie, Kara Ziringer, Julianne Creed, Drea Metzger, Renée Kathleen Koher, Jay Roberts, Fred Gerle, John Knispel, Chae Clearwood, Nick Kuhn, Meggie Siegrist, Phillip Giandiletti, Jacob Herrera, Evan Dolan, and Cyrus Hilding. Also making ABT debuts are Sam Lawrence, Katerina Anderson, Meredith Arends, and Creedence Weisberg.

In addition to Miracle on 34th Street, ABT will present a limited run of the hilariously funny one-man-show, The Santaland Diaries, December 13 - 16, as part of THE ENCORE at ABT Series presented in ABT's all-new Encore Room.

When a down-on-his luck wannabe actor arrives in New York City at the end of the year, the only employment he can find is at Macy's Department Store - working in Santaland for the holiday season, as a reluctant, but relentlessly cheerful, elf. Newly christened "Crumpet," our clever anti-hero shares his observations of the mayhem in front of and behind the scenes during one chaotic December, from aggressive parents and drunken Santas, to flirtatious actors, poor hygiene, and the racially charged hazards of being a "Pointer Elf." Will Crumpet find a moment of pure Christmas spirit? Will he end up in Santa's cottage with Snowball the Elf? Will he escape with his life on Christmas Eve before being torn apart by enraged customers?

Based on David Sedaris' beloved humorous and autobiographical essays of the same name, The Santaland Diaries is a wry and witty look at the combination of retail hell and theatrical spectacle that is the holiday season, a sharp, narrowly observed dark comedy. The perfect (anti)Holiday treat for grown-ups, this one-man show has been an annual tradition at theaters across the United States for the past twenty years. (Suggested PG17 for adult humor and situations.)

To purchase tickets or for more information, visit azbroadway.org or contact the Arizona Broadway Theatre Box Office at (623) 776-8400.

ABT, Arizona's one-of-a-kind, award-winning, state-of-the-art professional theatre showcases locally and nationally acclaimed artists and provides palate-pleasing sit-down table service prepared fresh daily to accompany the award-winning on-stage fare. With one reservation, you can enjoy a full night's entertainment without having to rush around the Phoenix sprawl between meal and show! ABT is conveniently located south of West Bell Road off Loop 101 in the P83 District east of the Peoria Sports Complex. Parking is free. Arizona Broadway Theatre's fourteenth season is proudly sponsored by Arrowhead Cadillac.

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