Miracle on 34th Street to debut this weekend at the Texas Theatre

(Seguin) – “Now wait a minute, Susie. Just because every child can’t get his wish that doesn’t mean there isn’t a Santa Claus.” If you grew up watching the holiday feel-good 1947 Christmas classic, Miracle on 34th Street, then you most likely recall this famous line. This and other touching lines of the film will be relived as curtains open up this weekend for the live Christmas production at the Texas Theatre.

Excited to bring the production to the local stage is Sheila Lucas, one of the directors for the holiday classic. 

“I could not believe it when I found out that it was available, and we could produce it now. It was just thrilling because it’s always been one of my favorites. I mean, I remember Natalie Wood as the little Susan and so it was great to be able to get to produce it and we’ve gotten a lot of crazy good feedback. I think it’s going to be a real boom to the community, and I think the theater is going to do well with it for sure,” said Lucas.

After a divorced New York mother hires a nice old man to play Santa Claus at the Macy’s department store, she apparently becomes shocked and surprised by his claim to be the genuine article. That’s when Lucas says his sanity is questioned and a lawyer comes forward to defend him in court.

“There is a little girl who her mother has raised her to be a realist and not to really believe in fairytales. She might get hurt later in life if she believed in fairytales. Her mother keeps telling her ‘no, you know it’s just a fairytale. You know there is no such thing as a real Santa Claus.’ Then, she meets Kris Kringle and Kris Kringle swoons the ladies and wins their hearts and Susan, the young girl, has a very big big Christmas wish and Kris Kringle is reluctant and says ‘well now Susan, not everybody gets what they want but never stop thinking, never stop dreaming, never stop believing and so believe it or not, he wins her heart,” said Lucas.

The holiday script which was officially put into action back in October with the start of rehearsals will be the holiday gift that the community has been waiting for. In fact, Lucas says it’s the community who has been the driving force behind bringing this holiday classic to life.

“Community and family — we have got so many families involved which you know reminds us of the big summer musicals that we used to do when all the families would gather and everybody would be in it — mom, dad, everybody so this is sort of the same thing. We have so many people that are a family unit that are in the show and that’s simply because in theater, there are simply never enough men and so if you want your child in the theater, you have to be in the show. So, we have to twist their arms a little bit, but we’ve discovered so much great talent just almost by accident because their kids are in the show and they go ‘okay, I’ll take a small part’ and they are stealing the show. They are hysterical. It is wonderful,” said Lucas.

Show times are at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 and Saturday, Dec. 17. A pair of scheduled matinees will also be held on both Saturday and Sunday beginning at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for reserved seating and $15 for general admission. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Gift & Gourmet; the Seguin Area Chamber of Commerce, Keepers Interiors or online at thetexas.org.