Miracle on 34th Street returns to the stage for UK tour

Miracle on 34th Street, the musical based on one of the most popular Christmas films of all time, is set to return to the stage following last year’s UK Premiere, opening in Croydon on 1 November 2014 prior to a UK Tour.

Based on the 1947 motion picture, Miracle on 34th Street is a heart-warming story of Susan, a young girl who dreams of a father and brother to make her family whole, and Kris Kringle, a kindly old bearded man, who claims he is the real Santa Claus. When employed as a Santa at a department store grotto, Kris quickly spreads a wave of love through New York City, but can he help make Susan’s wish come true?

The stage version, originally entitled Here’s Love, opened on Broadway in 1963. A hugely popular remake of the film was also released in 1994 starring Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle.

The cast features James Murphy as Kris Kringle, Inez Mackenzie as Doris, Ceris Hine as Susan, Jay Rincon as Fred Gaily, Robert Hannouch as Shellhammer and Craig Berry as R H Macy. The cast also includes Jodie Steele, Michaela Cartmell, Emily McAvoy, Scarlett Courtney, Stephanie Willson, Faye Charlotte Ainley, Adam Roberts, Calum Ewan Cameron, David Hinton-Gale and Toby Joyce.

Miracle on 34th Street will be directed by Paul Taylor Mills (Bare, Union Theatre) with choreography by Richard Jones, musical direction by Ben Holder and design by David Shields.

Miracle on 34th Street has a book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, best known for writing and composing The Music Man. It won the 1958 Tony Award for Best Musical and the cast recording won the first ever Grammy Award for Best Original Cast Album.

The tour begins in Croydon before moving onto Aylesbury, Windsor, Grimsby, Southport, Poole, Brighton and finishing in Dunfermline on 6 December.