Here's Love is a musical

Musical theatre

Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...

 with a book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson

Meredith Willson

Robert Meredith Willson was an American composer, songwriter, conductor and playwright, best known for writing the book, music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical The Music Man...

.

Based on the classic film Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th Street

Miracle on 34th Street is a 1947 Christmas film written by George Seaton from a story by Valentine Davies, directed by George Seaton and starring Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn...

, it tells the tale of a skeptical little girl who doubts the existence of Santa Claus

Santa Claus

Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...

. When the real Kris Kringle

Kris Kringle

Kris Kringle is a name used in the United States and may refer to:* Christkind or Christkindl, the Austrian and Bavarian Christmas gift-bringer, the Christ Child....

 inadvertently is hired to represent jolly St. Nick

Saint Nicholas

Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...

 in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, often shortened to Macy's Day Parade, is an annual parade presented by Macy's. The tradition started in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit, and four years younger than...

, he must convince the child and her cynical divorced mother (the department store's special events director) that he's the genuine article.

Productions

After two previews, the Broadway

Broadway theatre

Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...

 production, directed by Stuart Ostrow

Stuart Ostrow

Stuart Ostrow is an American theatrical producer and director, professor, and author.Born in New York City, Ostrow began his career as an apprentice of Frank Loesser and eventually became Vice-President and General Manager of Frank Music Corporation and Frank Productions, Incorporated, the...

 and choreographed by Michael Kidd

Michael Kidd

Michael Kidd was an American film and stage choreographer.-Life and career:Born Milton Greenwald in New York City on the Lower East Side, the son of Abraham Greenwald, an immigrant barber, and his wife Lillian, Michael Kidd moved to Brooklyn with his family and attended New Utrecht High School there...

, opened on October 3, 1963 at the Shubert Theatre

Shubert Theatre (Broadway)

The Shubert Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 225 West 44th Street in midtown-Manhattan, New York, United States.Designed by architect Henry Beaumont Herts, it was named after Sam S. Shubert, the second oldest of the three brothers of the theatrical producing family...

, and closed on July 25, 1964 after 334 performances and 2 previews. The cast included Laurence Naismith

Laurence Naismith

Laurence Naismith was an English actor.Naismith appeared in films such as Carrington VC , Richard III , Sink the Bismarck! , Jason and the Argonauts , and Diamonds Are Forever . He also starred in a children's ghost film The Amazing Mr Blunden...

, Janis Paige

Janis Paige

Janis Paige is an American film, musical theatre and television actress. Born Donna Mae Tjaden in Tacoma, Washington, she began singing in public from the age of five in local amateur shows...

, Craig Stevens

Craig Stevens (actor)

Craig Stevens was an American motion picture and television actor.-Early and personal life:Born Gail Shikles, Jr., in Liberty, Missouri, his father was a high school teacher....

, Lisa Kirk

Lisa Kirk

Lisa Kirk was an American actress and singer noted for her comic talents and rich contralto .-Career:...

, Fred Gwynne

Fred Gwynne

Frederick Hubbard "Fred" Gwynne was an American actor. Gwynne was best known for his roles in the 1960s sitcoms Car 54, Where Are You? and The Munsters, as well as his later roles: Pet Sematary and My Cousin Vinny...

, Michael Bennett

Michael Bennett

Michael Bennett was an American musical theater director, writer, choreographer, and dancer. He won seven Tony Awards for his choreography and direction of Broadway shows and was nominated for an additional eleven....

, and Baayork Lee

Baayork Lee

Baayork Lee is an Asian-American actress, singer, dancer, choreographer, theatre director, and author.-Early life and career:Lee was born in New York City's Chinatown to an Indian mother and Chinese father...

. The original director, Norman Jewison

Norman Jewison

Norman Frederick Jewison, CC, O.Ont is a Canadian film director, producer, actor and founder of the Canadian Film Centre. Highlights of his directing career include In the Heat of the Night , The Thomas Crown Affair , Fiddler on the Roof , Jesus Christ Superstar , Moonstruck , The Hurricane and The...

, was replaced by Ostrow, the producer, during rehearsals.

The Civic Light Opera Company, Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

, production ran from December 5-23, 2007.

According to MTI Shows, this musical has been retitled Miracle on 34th Street the Musical. The song "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" is a classic Christmas song written in 1951 by Meredith Willson. The song was originally titled "It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas"...

" was written by Willson in 1951 and used in the musical where it appears with the title "Pinecones and Holly Berries".

Synopsis

Susan Walker and her mother, Doris, live alone in New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 in the 1960s. Doris works in an executive position at Macy's and, at the start of the musical, is busy organizing the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Susan meets an ex-marine named Fred Gaily, who takes it upon himself to rid her of her "realistic" outlook on life by taking her to see Santa Claus

Santa Claus

Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...

 at Macy's. Kris (Santa) manages to win Susan over while love blooms between Fred and Doris. The second act sees Kris appearing in the New York Supreme Court

New York Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties...

, with Fred helping him defend his sanity. In the conclusion, Fred uses the Post Office to prove to the court (and the world) that Santa Claus does exist: Kris Kringle is he.

Original Broadway cast and characters

• Valerie Lee - Susan Walker
• Janis Paige
  Janis Paige
  Janis Paige is an American film, musical theatre and television actress. Born Donna Mae Tjaden in Tacoma, Washington, she began singing in public from the age of five in local amateur shows...
  
   - Doris Walker
• Laurence Naismith
  Laurence Naismith
  Laurence Naismith was an English actor.Naismith appeared in films such as Carrington VC , Richard III , Sink the Bismarck! , Jason and the Argonauts , and Diamonds Are Forever . He also starred in a children's ghost film The Amazing Mr Blunden...
  
   - Kris Kringle (Santa)
• Craig Stevens
  Craig Stevens (actor)
  Craig Stevens was an American motion picture and television actor.-Early and personal life:Born Gail Shikles, Jr., in Liberty, Missouri, his father was a high school teacher....
  
   - Fred Gaily
• Fred Gwynne
  Fred Gwynne
  Frederick Hubbard "Fred" Gwynne was an American actor. Gwynne was best known for his roles in the 1960s sitcoms Car 54, Where Are You? and The Munsters, as well as his later roles: Pet Sematary and My Cousin Vinny...
  
   - Mr. Shellhammer
• Paul Reed
  Paul Reed (actor)
  Paul Reed was born Sidney Kahn and was an American actor known for his trademark "slow burn", which he made famous in his role as Captain Paul Block on Car 54, Where Are You?....
  
  - Mr. Macy

Song list

Broadway
Act I

• The Big Clown Balloons - Paradesters
• Arm in Arm - Doris Walker and Susan Walker
• You Don't Know - Doris Walker
• The Plastic Alligator - Marvin Shellhammer and Clerks
• The Bugle - Mr. Kris Kringle and Hendrika
• Here's Love - Mr. Kris Kringle, Fred Gaily, Customers, Clerks, Employees and Children
• My Wish - Fred Gaily and Susan Walker
• Pinecones and Holly Berries - Mr. Kris Kringle, Doris Walker and Marvin Shellhammer
• Look, Little Girl - Fred Gaily
• Look, Little Girl (Reprise) - Doris Walker
• Expect Things to Happen - Mr. Kris Kringle

Act II

• Pinecones and Holly Berries (Reprise) - Mr. Kris Kringle and Susan Walker
• She Hadda Go Back - Fred Gaily and Marines
• That Man Over There - R. H. Macy
• My State - Doris Walker, R. H. Macy, Marvin Shellhammer, Tammany O'Halloran and Judge Martin Group
• Nothing in Common - Doris Walker
• That Man Over There (Reprise) - Court Personnel and Spectators

Toronto
Act I

• Pinecones & Holly Berries/ It's Beginning to Look A Lot like Christmas
• The Big Clown Balloons
• Arm in Arm
• You Don't Know
• Be A Santa
• The Bugle
• Here's Love
• My Wish
• Pinecones & Holly Berries (reprise)
• Seeing Things
• Pinecones & Holly Berries (reprise)
• Expect Things to Happen / Dream Ballet

Act II

• It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas (reprise)
• Be A Santa (reprise)
• The Bachelor
• Dear Mr. Santa Claus
• That Man Over There
• My State
• Must It Be Love?
• It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas (reprise)
• That Man Over There (reprise)

External links

• Here's Love at guidetomusicaltheatre.com