''Here's Love'' is a

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...

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 Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Chris ...

. When the real Kris Kringle is hired inadvertently to represent jolly St. Nick in the

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is an annual parade in New York City presented by the American-based department store chain Macy's. The Parade first took place in 1924, tying it for the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States ...

, 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 Choreography is the art of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which motion or form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A choreographer creates choreographies thr ...

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 Frederick Hubbard Gwynne (July 10, 1926 – July 2, 1993) was an American actor, artist and author, who is widely known for his roles in the 1960s television sitcoms '' Car 54, Where Are You?'' (as Francis Muldoon) and '' The Munsters'' (as Herm ...

, Kathy Cody, Michael Bennett, and

Baayork Lee Baayork Lee (born December 5, 1946) is an 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. She started danci ...

. The original director,

Norman Jewison Norman Frederick Jewison (July 21, 1926 – January 20, 2024) was a Canadian filmmaker. He was known for directing films which addressed topical Social issue, social and political issues, often making controversial or complicated subjects acces ...

, was replaced by Ostrow, the producer, during rehearsals. Per: https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/heres-love-3024#Replacements: 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''. The song "

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" is a Christmas song written in 1951 by Meredith Willson. The song was originally titled "It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas". Perry Como was the first to record and release the song in 1951. The so ...

", written by Willson in 1951, is used in the musical, where it is sung in

counterpoint In music theory, counterpoint is the relationship of two or more simultaneous musical lines (also called voices) that are harmonically dependent on each other, yet independent in rhythm and melodic contour. The term originates from the Latin ...

to the newly-composed "Pine Cones and Holly Berries".Connema, Richar
Review, ''Here's Love''
www.talkinbroadway.com, January 16, 2002

Synopsis

Susan Walker and her mother, Doris, live alone in

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

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

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 The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the superior court in the Judiciary of New York. It is vested with unlimited civil and criminal jurisdiction, although in many counties outside New York City it acts primarily as a court of civil ju ...

, 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 – Doris Walker * Laurence Naismith – Kris Kringle\Santa Claus * Craig Stevens – Fred Gaily *

– Marvin Shellhammer * Paul Reed – R. H. Macy * Kathy Cody – 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/

– 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/

(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
* {{Meredith Willson 1963 musicals Broadway musicals Christmas musicals Miracle on 34th Street Musicals based on films Musicals by Meredith Willson Musicals set in New York City Santa Claus in fiction