The Buckhannon Community Theatre presents Miracle on 34th Street, the heartwarming holiday play based on the popular films by the same name.
In the play, Kris Kringle, an old man in a retirement home, gets a job working as Santa for Macy’s. Kris unleashes waves of good will with Macy’s customers and the commercial world of New York City by referring parents to other stores to find the toys their children have asked for.
Seen as deluded and dangerous by Macy’s vocational counselor, Sawyer, who plots to have Kris committed to Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital, Kris ends up in a court competency hearing. Especially at stake is one little girl’s belief in Santa.
In a dramatic decision, the court confirms Kris as the true Santa, allowing Susan and countless other children to experience the joy of childhood fantasy.
In the BCT production, Kris Kringle is played by Dr. Robert Rupp, with Dannie Stiles playing his nemesis, Sawyer.
Other local stars include Jonathan Hicks as Dr. Pierce, Lisa Bennett as Doris Walker, Cheyenne Bolyard as Susan Walker, and Brian Williams as Fred Gayley.
Additional cast members include Sherri Hoover, Kayla Long, Leah Morehead, Gague Ware, Alex Benjamin, Mary Tillman, Amy Trent, Kaici Lore, Abigail Benjamin, Ava Trent, Maria Benjamin, Rylynn Shelley, Tatum Hulver, Denise Hedrick, Anna Milinovich, Heather Hull, Brody Hull, Anya Morehead, and Pressley Bowers. Mayor David McCauley makes an appearance as Drunk Santa.
Chloe Bennett, Ella McNeish, Addison Tenney, Chelsea Humphrey, Emma Hicks, Hayley Harvey, and Kylie Hull will portray santa’s elves.
The production will also feature christmas carols sung by Kari Gay, Sherri Hoover, Denise Hedrick, Kayla Long, Pressley Bowers, Tatum Hulver, Ava Trent, and Luke, Benjamin, and Anna Milinovich, among others.
Director kb saine is working with the Buckhannon Community Theatre for the first time. A director, playwright, and theatre educator with over 20 years of experience, saine brings a new, unique perspective to the BCT production.
“It has really been a joy to work with the talent in the Buckhannon community,” saine says. “This production is the best of everything you could hope for in a community theatre: seasoned, trained professionals working side by side with folks who are in their first production, with everyone working hard & having a great time making this play come to life. It’s such a sweet play, and this cast is just knocking it out of the park. Buckhannon audiences are in for a real treat.”
Miracle on 34th Street runs Thursday, Dec. 13 – Sunday, Dec. 16, at the Opera House at 12 East Main Street in Buckhannon. Performances are Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at www.buckhannoncommunitytheatre.com, or Klie Law Offices at 304-472-5007. Additional details and information can be found at www.buckhannoncommunitytheatre.com.