Sauk To Present Holiday Radio Drama Online

The Sauk, Hillsdale County's community theatre, is taking their holiday production online with a live radio drama adaptation of Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus. The production will have four live performances December 17-20.

Inspired by a simple, poignant letter written over 100 years ago by 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon to the editor of the New York Sun-and by the timeless editorial response printed on the front page of the Sun. Virginia wondered and wrote: "Dear Editor, I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says if you see it in the Sun, it's so. Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus?" Ed Mitchell, the Sun's editor, gives the assignment of answering Virginia's letter to Frank Church who, until his wife and baby died last Christmas Eve, was the Sun's best and most dependable reporter. This production will be performed live with each actor performing from their home.

The cast includes Ellie Gray as Virginia, Jeff Gray as her father, Mandee Leigh Howard as her mother, Tyson Duff as her brother, Madyson Howard as her best friend, Tim Ambrose as newspaper editor Ed Mitchell, Andy Anderson as Frank Church, Tiffany Thatcher as female reporter Annette and Nathan Johnson as newspaper rival Cornelius Barrington. Sheila McCrae is the production's announcer. In addition to these main roles, each actor portrays several other characters throughout the broadcast.

"The audience won't just hear the play," said Sauk Executive Director Trinity Bird, who directs the production. "The audience will be able to watch the actors as they transform into multiple characters. It should feel as if you're watching a 1940's radio cast put on a show."

Performances are at 8 p.m. December 17-19 with a 3 p.m. matinee on December 20. All tickets are $12. Tickets can be purchased now at www.thesauk.org or by calling 517-849-9100 (after December 9).

Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus: A Radio Play is sponsored by The Udder Side. The 2020 season is sponsored by Expressions Photography & Design (www.expressions.photography). The 2020 media sponsor is WCSR Radio Hillsdale.