Casting Complete for Meredith Willson's Miracle on 34th Street Benefit

By Andrew Gans
and Michael Gioia
23 Nov 2011

Tony Yazbeck
Tony Yazbeck
Photo by John Fortunato

Douglas Leland (Buddy, West End) and Steve Schalchlin (The Big Voice: God or Merman?) will join the previously reported Tony Yazbeck, Kimberly Faye Greenberg, Jim Brochu, Rachel Resheff and Brian Childers for a one-night-only performance of Meredith Willson's Miracle on 34th Street Dec. 12 at The St. Luke’s Theatre.

The 7 PM show, which will benefit the Actors Fund, will feature direction by Theatrical Gems artistic director Jacob Shoesmith-Fox, with musical direction by Seth Bisen-Hersh and choreography by Brett Radek.

Miracle on 34th Street features a book, music and lyrics by Willson. The musical, according to press notes, "is based on the classic 20 Century Fox film in which a Macy's Department Store Santa (Brochu), who believes himself to be the real Kris Kringle, helps bring the spirit of Christmas to a precocious young girl, her mother (Greenberg), and a retired Marine (Yazbeck)."

The Actors Fund is a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment. The Fund is a safety net, providing programs and services for those who are in need, crisis or transition.

Theatrical Gems produces Miracle on 34th Street. The organization, a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, strives to educate audiences about the past, present and future of theatre. 

The St. Luke’s Theatre is located at 308 West 46th Street. For tickets, priced $25, email tickets@theatricalgems.org. For more information, visit www.theatricalgems.org.