Here's Love is a musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson. An adaptation of the film Miracle on 34th Street, the show is currently licensed under the film's name as Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical.
The musical, much like the film that inspired it, tells the tale of a skeptical young girl who doubts the existence of Santa Claus. When the real Kris Kringle is hired inadvertently to represent jolly St. Nick in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, he must convince the child and her cynical divorced mother (the department store's special events director) that he is the genuine article.
Productions The Broadway production, directed by Stuart Ostrow and choreographed by Michael Kidd, opened on October 3, 1963, at the Shubert Theatre, and closed on July 25, 1964, after 334 performances and 2 previews. The cast included Laurence Naismith, Janis Paige, Craig Stevens, Lisa Kirk, Fred Gwynne, Kathy Cody, Michael Bennett, and Baayork Lee. The original director, Norman Jewison, was replaced by Ostrow, the producer, during rehearsals.Jewison, Norman. This Terrible Business Has Been Good to Me, Macmillan (2005), , pp.59-60
Per: IBDB: Lead cast replacements included: Richard Kiley as Fred Gailey from May 26, 1964 - Jul 04, 1964; Lisa Kirk as Doris Walker from May 26, 1964 - Jul 25, 1964; John Payne as Fred Gailey from Jul 06, 1964 - Jul 25, 1964 (reprising his role from the original 1947 film).
This show had also been titled It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical.MTI listing accessed July 30, 2011 The song "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas", written by Willson in 1951, is used in the musical, where it is sung in counterpoint to the newly-composed "Pine Cones and Holly Berries".Meredith Willson bio, greatstreets.org, accessed January 18, 2009Connema, Richard.Review, Here's Love, www.talkinbroadway.com, January 16, 2002
Synopsis
Susan Walker and her mother, Doris, live alone in New York City 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 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, 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.
Original Broadway cast and characters Valerie Lee – Susan Walker Janis Paige – Doris Walker Laurence Naismith – Kris Kringle\Santa Claus Craig Stevens – Fred Gaily Fred Gwynne – Marvin Shellhammer Paul Reed – R. H. Macy David Doyle - Mr. Sawyer Reby Howells - Miss Crookshank Kathy Cody – Hendrika
First National Tour cast and characters (renamed: Miracle on 34th Street - The Musical)
Charlotte Surak and Amelia Rue - Susan Walker Ellie Baker - Doris Walker Wesley Scott - Kris Kringle/Santa Claus Truman Griffin - Fred Gaily Liam Joshua Munn - Marvin Shellhammer Greg Kalafatas - R.H. Macy John Dellaporta - Mr. Sawyer Jocelyn Lonquist Klein - Miss Crookshank Beau Brians - Tammany O'Halloran Jerry Sciarrio - Judge Martin Group Charlotte Surak and Amelia Rue – Hendrika
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 Pine Cones and Holly Berries/It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas – 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 Pine Cones and Holly Berries/It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (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
References
External links Here's Love at guidetomusicaltheatre.com