StageKids Brings ‘The Santa Claus Chronicles’ to TAP

StageKids Theatre will kick off the Christmas season Nov. 20 – 22 with its holiday production of Ho Ho Ho, The Santa Claus Chronicles at Third Avenue Playhouse in Sturgeon Bay.

The play, starring 23 area youth ages 5 – 18 (and two adults), will answer the most pressing questions people have about the big man in red: How does he make that midnight flight? How does he know who is naughty and who is nice? How does he keep at it year after year?

“It’s a charming piece,” said StageKids director Ryan Patrick Shaw. “It’s six vignettes happening at the North Pole on the 23rd of December and there is a host who takes us behind the scenes of what’s happening in the North Pole. We see a press conference, Santa’s press secretary answering questions from a bunch of reporters; we see four elves (Eeny, Meeny, Miney and Sol) who work on the reindeer going through a drill with their drill sergeant; Eeny’s the editor of the newspaper, called The Snow News; we meet some shoppers and we meet some workers for the North Pole hotline. They are helping people who need gift ideas.”

A production by Houston, Texas playwright Pat Cook, the plot focuses on one major hiccup in the final days before Christmas: Mrs. Claus has gone missing.

While he doesn’t want to reveal too much, Shaw does say the play ends on a happy note for all involved, especially for the Door County children who have put their time and effort into making a great play to kick off the festive season.

The opening performance of The Santa Claus Chronicles takes place shortly after the annual tree lighting ceremony at the clock tower on Third Avenue.

Santa Claus Chronicles will show at 7:30pm on Friday, Nov. 20, 2pm and 7:30pm on Saturday, Nov. 21, and 2pm on Sunday, Nov. 22. General admission is $10 and children 11 and under are $5. Tickets may be purchased at the box office, 234 N. Third Ave. in Sturgeon Bay, by phone at 920.743.1760, or online at ThirdAvenuePlayhouse.com.