By Beth James

Kernersville Little Theatre (KLT) has been providing live entertainment to Kernersville and the surrounding area for close to fifty years. Starting with their first production in the summer of 1977, the all-volunteer, non-profit organization began this tradition, which continues today. The mission of KLT is “to provide an avenue for development in all aspects of theatrical arts for all within the community, and to provide entertainment for the community by offering a series of well-staged performances of live theater.” About ten years ago, they began their “Bring a Book to Life” program, which brings one show per season to the stage based on literature, often a children’s book, and involving families and children in a more distinct way than many of their usual shows.

For the 2024-25 season, KLT’s Bring a Book to Life show is Miracle on 34th Street, which will also be just in time to celebrate the December holiday season. The timeless show is based on a novella written by Valentine Davies, first published in 1945. A 1947 movie version followed the book’s publication, although some plot points, as well as the ending, were changed for the movie. Davies was inspired to write the story during a shopping trip for Christmas in 1944. The original film version went on to win several awards including an Oscar for Davies for Best Story, and one for Edmund Gwenn for Best Supporting Actor in the role of Kris Kringle/Santa Claus. The story has gone on to inspire multiple film versions, as well as a musical version and a “radio play” version. KLT will be performing the non-musical version, written especially for community theaters.

Performances will be held in the Fitzpatrick Auditorium on the campus of Kernersville Elementary School (512 West Mountain Street) for two weekends in December. Evening shows will begin at 7:30 PM on December 6, 7, 13, and 14, with matinees at 2:00 PM on December 7 and 15. (Note: no performance on Sunday, December 8 due to the Kernersville Christmas Parade.) While not open to the public, there will also be a special performance for the students of Kernersville Elementary between the two weekends. This is KLT’s way to thank the school for the ongoing support of the use of the auditorium, as well as to introduce the children of Kernersville to the excitement of live theatre. Every student in the school will also be provided with a book that is at their age level and connected to the show.

Thurston Williams, who last worked with KLT as the assistant director for Proof in 2022, will be directing Miracle on 34th Street. He comes with a love of the holidays and is looking forward to working with the cast of children and adults, and is especially happy to be able to cast families together. He will be coming directly from directing Driving Miss Daisy for Lexington Live (and at the last minute also appearing in the cast), which immediately followed his direction of his own theatre company, Sleepless Nights Theatre, and their production of Lungs. Thurston has been involved in the local theatre community for over ten years, having fallen in love with it while in elementary school, then continuing through his time at Trinity High School, eventually studying acting at UNC Charlotte, which included a semester abroad at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia.

The cast of almost thirty and crew of the show is a large one, with several families involved. Within the cast, the Platt family’s involvement includes a mom and two children, the Straders are a married couple with several grandchildren, and the Trents are married parents with children. The production crew has a mother and son involved backstage, the set designer is married to a cast member, and three generations of the James family include a production manager with her daughter and a grandson in the cast. These are some of the familial ties that contribute to the family feel that KLT prides itself in, particularly for the “Bring a Book to Life” shows. Other cast members are veterans of “Bring a Book to Life,” having appeared in, or worked on, multiple of these shows.

To purchase tickets to Miracle on 34th Street, visit the KLT website, KLTheatre.com, or go to our.show/miracleklt. Adult and senior/student priced tickets are $20 and $18 at the door. Children’s tickets (under 12) are $8. For more information call the KLT office at 336-993-6556.