Miracle on 34th Street, the play based on the 1947 novel by Valentine Davies is a long-standing tradition at Mountain Community Theater.
First adapted by MCT co-founders Peter Troxell and Rita Wadsworth in 1982, it is making its return for the 11th time (and first since 2018) with actors ranging from little kids to big adults, bringing the bustle of New York City at Christmas time and the courtroom action of a very peculiar state trial to Ben Lomond’s “Park Hall” this Winter.
Directed by MCT veteran Daria Troxell who has been involved with Miracle on four different occasions over the last 22 years, first starting as production manager in 2002 before acting in three others.
She has been engaged with this play, almost as long as her son Wyatt (this year’s production manager) has been alive. Troxell is excited to have been presented with the opportunity to go from acting to directing this year.
“It’s wild to be directing it because as a director you have to have the bigger scope of the play,” Troxell said.
“As an actor you’re just thinking about your character and motivations, but when you’re a director you’ve gotta think about everybody’s underlying motivations in a particular scene, history, how their relationships have changed throughout the play.”
For some, managing a cast of 40 kids and adults might be challenging, but Troxell, who directs for the “Little People’s Repertory Theater” in Ben Lomond each year and oversees more than 70 children for a musical, is confident that with that experience, Miracle is a much easier process as a director.
“I do a musical with 70 kids every summer so managing 40 people (mostly adults) is a lot less work, so I’d say this is kind of a walk in the park compared to what I usually get to do,” Troxell said.
Troxell is honored to be making her mark on this MCT Christmas tradition and is excited to share this show’s magical message and themes of childhood whimsy and belief with the community.
“It feels great being a part of this tradition and going from acting to directing this text. A line in the show is ‘Faith is believing in things even when common sense tells you not to’ and that underlying current is something we all need to keep in perspective so I feel fortunate to have the responsibility and opportunity to convey that message,” Troxell said.
Troxell believes this show will be a hit, with a cast made up of MCT veterans and families, featuring everything from the ecentric Kris Kringle on trial for claiming to be Santa Claus, to an elf dance number director by returning MCT veteran MarNae Taylor.
“We have an amazing cast, and they are going to knock your socks off if you come to see the production. We have amazing actors in our lead roles and an incredible supporting cast, that are going to lend their hand in telling the story,” Troxell said.
Miracle on 34th Street runs at Park Hall from Friday, Nov. 22 to Sunday, Dec. 15. Friday and Saturday shows are at 7:30pm, Sunday matinees are at 2pm, and doors open at 7pm. Tickets cost 25$, 9400 Mill St, Ben Lomond.
By Matthew Chipman
