(La Junta, CO) – This holiday season, Picketwire Players will stage a performance of “Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus.” This original production from the Macy’s Corporation is based on a true story of 8-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon, who wrote a letter to the New York Sun newspaper in 1897, inquiring about the existence of Santa Claus. The original musical program was part of Macy’s holiday “Believe” campaign and was performed by elementary and middle schools nationwide.

Picketwire will welcome the holiday season with “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” December 11, 12, and 13 at 7:00 PM at Picketwire Center for Performing and Visual Arts, 802 San Juan Avenue, La Junta, Colorado.

Virginia’s cast boasts a mix of veteran Picketwire players and some new faces. “Yes, Virginia” is full of festive music, lively dances and heartfelt Christmas spirit. Leading the cast is Bethany Taullie as Virginia. She is as excited and infectious with her Christmas cheer as the character herself.

Helping her in her search for Santa is her best friend Ollie, played by Justin Paolucci. Ollie is supportive and protective of his good friend, especially when the neighborhood’s mean girl, Charlotte, causes problems. Charlotte is played by the vivacious and expressive Kieran Harris. Charlotte has her own sidekick, Agatha, played by Annie Clarke.

Two additional characters who help Virginia in her Santa search are the local librarian played by Destiny Clarke and a scraggly, street Santa down on his luck. R.J. Barber depicts the happy, but poor man who spreads cheer everywhere.

Of course, there is an unhappy grump in the play too, the New York Sun editor, Frank Church. Veteran Picketwire Player, Grant Elliott, characterizes Frank Church to perfection balancing a mean disposition with a man who finally finds his heart. His brother William Church is played by Todd Hillstad. Rachael Berg plays Virginia’s mother, Mrs. O’Hanlon. Dr. O’Hanlon is one of the characters that Stephen Lange plays. He also covers the roles of Gus, the livery stable operator and the real Santa Claus. There’s an assortment of other fun characters:

• Singing Books – Addison Aragon and Celeste Mondragon
• Dancing Pigeons – Nathan Clarke and Izabella Inguito
• Head News Boy – Braedon Harris
• News Girls – Paeton Coates, Cira Fowler, Emma Ayala, Addison Aragon,
  and Celeste Mondragon
• Round-the-World-Santas – Courtney Ayala, Jayden Martinez, Glenn
• Parker, Kurtis Johnson, Tracy Taullie and Nenna White
• Young Mother – Jordin Thomson
• City Dwellers/Library Patrons – Kris Koehler, Rosann Inguito, and
  Christopher Johnson

Join Picketwire for their Christmas musical “Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus” – December 11, 12 and 13 at 7:00 pm.