Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus
based on the teleplay by Val DeCrowl and Andrew J. Fenady
directed by Valerie Winslow
Thurs.-Sat., Nov. 29-Dec. 15, 7:30 p.m.
Sat., Dec. 15, 2:00 p.m.
The Davies Foundation Auditorium
52 Church St., Kingston, ON
 L-R: Alexandra Boese, Robert Grim, Madeline Kerr and William Kerr. |
 L-R: Rebecca Lee, Jacob Denofreo, Ray Viola, Phil Perrin and Gary Helmkay. |
 Matt Salton (left) and Grant Buckler. |
Inspired by a simple, poignant letter written over 100 years ago by eight-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon to the editor of the New York Sun—and by the timeless editorial response printed on the front page of the Sun.
 L-R: Rachel Hackett, Alexis Clayfield, Madeline Kerr, Katie Kerr and Claire Cooper. |
It is Christmas 1897 and Virginia's life is in need of some light and hope. Her father James has lost his job. Her family lives in a cramped, shabby apartment. Her friends have told her there is no Santa Claus, and she doesn't know what to believe, but her father tells her that "If you see it in the Sun, it's so." So she writes to the Sun and asks: "Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus."
Virginia isn't the only one whose life needs some light and hope. Francis P. Church was, in his editor's words, "the best newspaperman who ever worked for me or anyone else." But last Christmas Eve his wife and newborn daughter died. Since then, Frank has barely been able to work and begun drinking heavily.
Then Ed Mitchell, editor of the Sun, hands him Virginia's letter and asks him to write a reply. The result brings hope to both Virginia and Frank—and proves wrong Frank's gloomy assertion that "Nothing that you or I or anybody else writes for a newspaper has a life span of more than 24 hours."
Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus is a play for young and old, magically reaffirming life's highest beauty and joy—"the eternal light with which childhood fills the world."
Cast |
|
| Edward P. Mitchell | Grant Buckler |
| James O'Hanlon | Robert Grim |
| Frank P. Church | Matt Salton |
| Evie O'Hanlon | Alexandra Boese |
| Virginia O'Hanlon | Madeline Kerr |
| Andrea Borland | Rebecca Lee |
| Cornelius Barrington | Gary Helmkay |
| Teddy Murray/Art Fritz | Noah Purdy |
| Sergeant Flynn/Shannon/Chambers | Ray Viola |
| O'Hara/Scotty/Goss | Dale C. Jones |
| Schuller/Pryor/George | Phil Perrin |
| Dominic Donelli/Otho/Thief | Jacob Denofreo |
| Shorty/Officer Blake/Red | David Lay |
| Mrs. Goldstein | Angie Roberts |
| Sean O'Hanlon | William Kerr |
| Maria Donelli | Alexis Clayfield |
| Susan/Newsboy | Rachel Hackett |
| Julie/Worker | Claire Cooper |
| Celeste/Mother/Wife | Suzanne Kerr |
| Little Girl | Katie Kerr |
Production Crew |
|
| Producers | Michael Catlin Dylan Chenier Sandie Cond |
| Director | Valerie Winslow |
| Stage Manager | Kim Dressel |
| Asst. Stage Manager | Sue Owen |
| Sound Design | Michelle McNichol |
| Set & Lighting Design | David L. Smith |
| Costume Design | Whitney Purdy Esme Purdy Anne-Marie Kooiman |
| Chief Carpenter | Bob Brooks |
| Props | Michael Catlin Patty Halligan Sandie Cond |
| Sound Operator | Kim Dressel |
| Lighting Operator | James Leslie |
| Backstage Crew | Robyn Clayfield |
| Set Construction | Grant Buckler James Gow Lorna Jodoin Dave Oliver Bob Brooks |
| Set Dressing & Painting | Michael Catlin Dylan Chenier Sandie Cond Patty Halligan Liz Schell |
| Lobby Photography | Ian Malcolm |
| Archival Photography | Grant Buckler |
| Poster Design | Katie Flower-Smith |
| Lobby Art Curator | Liz Schell |
| Front of House Co-ordinator | Steve Powell |