The Man Who Wanted to Be Santa November 23, 2012

The Festival Playhouse presents

"The Man Who Wanted to Be Santa"

by Pat Cook

Directed by Charles Ault

Now in its 76th year of production, The Festival Playhouse presents "The Man Who Wanted to Be Santa" November 23 through December 16. This show plays Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16 Fridays and Saturdays, $14 on Sundays for adults and are available by calling 303-422-4090. The Festival Playhouse is located at 5665 Olde Wadsworth Blvd in Arvada.

Who IS that guy?" That's what they're asking each other at the local police station when Santa Claus shows up handing out gifts. This Santa seems to know them all so well…but they haven't a clue who he is. It's not like they haven't seen people dressed for the holidays, even Chief Culpepper has been known to don the Santa suit. State investigator Russell Brooks arrives to check on some irregularities and it doesn't take long to get on the trail of the phantom Kris Kringle. Brooks finds Santa's bag of presents and, in it, a collection of old wallets. Could it be that Santa is a pickpocket? From singing messengers to lovesick reporters this holiday comedy goes a long way to prove things aren't always what they seem to be, especially for one old gentleman.

Growing up in Frankston, Texas, Pat Cook enjoyed writing short stories and skits for high school. He wrote his first play in Lon Morris Junior College in 1968. It has since vanished into some forgotten waste basket. His first play to be published wasRest in Peace, released in 1976. Between working as a professional actor and, occasionally, selling pianos, books and other odd jobs, more plays have been published. Then his wife, Rose Ann, taught him the joys of using a computer. This coupled with his conviction to drop everything else and write full time, proved to be a turning point in his life. As of this writing, he has had 145 plays published by 9 publishers, several of which have been translated into Dutch and German.(www.patcook.org).

The Festival Playhouse presents "The Man Who Wanted to Be Santa" - Things aren’t always what they seem to be. Nov 23 – Dec 16 - Fri\Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sun at 2 p.m. Tickets are $16 Fri\Sat; $14 Sun. The Festival Playhouse, 5665 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. 303-422-4090 www.festivalplayhouse.com

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Charles Ault, Sr. started The Player Guild in 1936. Charley Ault, Jr., who now runs The Players Guild, begins its 76th year of production.