‘Miracle on 34th Street’ comes to Southwick

Date: 12/12/2014

SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Cultural Council has arranged for the Suffield Players to put on a free production of “Miracle on 34th Street” on Dec. 14.

The play will be performed  as a 1940s radio broadcast, including costumes from the time and a foley table designated for sound effects, according to Vice President of the Southwick Cultural Council Pat McMahon.

“We’re quite pleased we could work out this partnership with the Suffield Players,” McMahon said.

The radio play is directed and adapted by Chris Rohmann, who said their production is an “on-stage recreation” of the Lux Radio Theatre adaptation that was aired nationally in 1947, the same year the movie was released.

“I think the old-time radio version suits the material and the season perfectly. There’s something positively primal about our response to the Christmas message of generosity and goodwill, and ‘Miracle’ delivers it in spades,” Rochmann said.

“There’s definitely a lump in the throat at the end, but lots of laughs before then – both in the whimsical script itself and the radio-studio framework – and some good holiday-flavored fun,” he continued.

The play will be performed on the Southwick Town Hall Stage and comes as part of the Cultural Council’s fifth year of “Celebrate the Season,” something that McMahon said she hopes will only continue on through the years.

“We really want to build that tradition in Southwick,” McMahon said. “It’s nice to see town hall for public uses that are positive.”
Though the production is free, donations will be accepted at the door.

All donations will be used to subsidize the cost of the performance.

McMahon said she is excited to see a play on the stage after working on renovations, but her message to encourage attendees is simple.

“It’s a good time at town hall,” McMahon said. “What more could you want?”

The performance will take place at 2 p.m. on Dec. 14 at Town Hall.

Holiday refreshments will be provided for the audience.
For more information about additional performances in the area by the Suffield Players, go to www.SuffieldPlayers.org.