UNITY THEATRE TO PRESENT “MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET”
This Christmas season, enjoy a nostalgic trip down memory lane with the heartwarming holiday classic, Miracle on 34th Street, based on the beloved Twentieth Century Fox film and novel by Valentine Davies. In this family friendly tale, Kris Kringle, an old man in a retirement home, gets a job working as Santa Claus for Macy’s Department Store. 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 exactly the toy their child has asked for. Seen as deluded and dangerous, Macy’s vocational counselor plots to have Kris shanghaied to Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital, but what’s really at stake is one little girl’s belief in Santa Claus.
“This is a tale that we want to believe in, that creates a world we seem to desperately desire, free of the blatant commercialism that surrounds us, where love and decency and generosity of spirit are their own rewards. What we want Christmas to be all about, really.” – Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Directed by Unity Theatre’s Executive Artistic Director, Kate Revnell-Smith, you’ll enjoy performances from those new to the Unity stage as well as many familiar faces in this cast of almost 25, with some actors playing several different roles. “What an absolute delight it is to work on this modern day Christmas Carol with such a wonderful group of actors and so many talented young people from the community”, says Revenell-Smith. The iconic role of Kris Kringle will be portrayed by Houston actor, Ralph Ehntholt, who will be making his Unity Theatre debut. Katie Beth Barnett will be playing the role of Susan, the little girl whose belief in Santa Claus is at risk, with Bree Welch (previously seen at Unity in Enchanted April, The Heiress, The Odd Couple) portraying her no-nonsense mom. Josh Morrison (The Taming of the Shrew, Harvey, The Foreigner) returns to the Unity stage as Fred Gayley, the lawyer, neighbor and friend to Doris and Susan. The rest of the cast includes Barry Brass, Betsy Parker, Brinley Linden, Cheryl Willis, Cora Hemphill, Cydney Pennison, Irelyn Antowiak, Josh Parker, Kathleen Teodoro, Kayci Pharaon, Lexie Hamilton, Lisa Thomas Morrison, Marley Lonsert, Mia Odom, Mike Roberts, Rick Perkins, Sadie Royer, Tam Trevino, Amy Schramm and Ted Doolittle.
Miracle on 34th Street runs for three weekends at Unity Theatre, previewing on Thursday, December 3rd, opening on Friday, December 4th, and playing through Sunday, December 20th. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 4:00 pm. Tickets are $27 and they are reserved, however $17 tickets are available for Preview, December 3rd, student tickets are $15, and all unsold seats are $15 at 15 minutes prior to any performance. A talk-back with the cast and crew immediately follows the Preview performance on December 3rd and a Director’s Chat is scheduled for 7:30 pm on Saturday, December 12th, prior to the show.
Reservations can be made (and are strongly recommended) through the Unity Theatre Box Office at 300 Church Street, open Monday through Friday, 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, by phone at (979) 830-8358, by email to tickets@unitybrenham.org.
Visit the website at www.UnityBrenham.org for more information.