Plot
Anna Claus has Santa's workshop running so efficiently in December 1910, the team has completed all the Christmas gift, toys and presents a week ahead of schedule ("Seven Days 'Til Christmas"). Mrs. Claus attempts to offer her husband Nicholas a new, more efficient, Circumnavigation, route around the world, but he is preoccupied by the Letters to Santa, deluge of mail as Christmas approaches. Feeling ready for a change in her life, Anna decides to assert her independence by testing the route herself, Santa Claus's reindeer, flying the reindeer sleigh for an impromptu journey ("Mrs. Santa Claus"). A sudden storm forces her to make an emergency landing near the Statue of Liberty. She befriends the Groom (profession), stable lad Marcello, who determines Cupid's injury will require a week of rest and recovery. Marcello offers to take "Mrs. North" to the best boarding house in the city; along the way he indicates the marvelous melting pot nature of Avenue A (Manhattan), his neighborhood, and Mrs. North enjoys the sights and sounds of a History of New York City (1898–1945), burgeoning and bustling New York City ("Avenue A"). At the boarding house, host Mrs. Lowenstein worries that her daughter Sadie is attracting police attention for her Soapboxing, outspoken opinions regarding Women's suffrage in the United States, women's suffrage. After Mrs. North earns the trust of young boarder Nora Kilkenny, the child helps her get a job with a toy manufacturer. Alas, the proprietor is motivated by greed and reminds his Child labor in the United States, child laborers that their work need only last until Christmas ("A Tavish Toy"). As the new Tavish Toy Company supervisor, Mrs. North dispels any worries that she is too old to be working with the children ("Almost Young"). After her concerns about toy quality are ignored, Mrs. North vows to reform conditions at Tavish. Santa begins to worry about his wife after Arvo reveals that she's been gone for two days. Meanwhile in New York, Mrs. North helps Sadie gather a crowd to demand votes for women ("Suffragette March"). Marcello and Sadie share a mutual attraction despite their incompatibility ("We Don't Go Together at All"). Outside a Vaudeville show, Mrs. North and Nora cement their friendship and vow to help one another ("Whistle"). Back at the North Pole, devoid of his usual cheer, Santa expresses how deeply he misses his lifelong Mrs., missus ("Dear Mrs. Santa Claus"). At the Tavish factory, Mrs. North has organized a Slowdown, work slowdown, and she is promptly fired. Nora leaves in solidarity ("Whistle" reprise). Clandestinely entering the Tavish factory via the chimney, Mrs. North rallies the children to organize a citywide Strike action, strike and crusade for labor reforms. At the Christmas ball the next evening, Sadie raises a toast to Mrs. North and all the lives she's touched since her arrival. After learning the reindeer have recovered, Mrs. Claus realizes she's ready to return to her husband's side ("He Needs Me"). While searching out the stables, Mrs. Claus is ambushed by Mr. Tavish; he had deduced her real identity, and hid the reindeer to prevent Santa from Christmas gift-bringer, delivering Christmas presents. Mrs. Claus swiftly resolves the situation with the perfect gift for Tavish. On Christmas Eve, Santa invites Anna to ride beside him for the first time, using the new route she devised. Aboard the flying reindeer sleigh, Anna and Santa are thrilled to be reunited, and express their shared devotion ("The Best Christmas of All").Cast
* Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Claus, Mrs. Anna Claus * Charles Durning as Santa Claus * Terrence Mann as Augie Tavish, owner of Tavish Toys * Michael Jeter as Arvo, Santa's Head Elf * Debra Wiseman as Sadie Lowenstein, a Jewish immigrant girl who fights for women's rights * Lynsey Bartilson as Nora Kilkenny, an Irish immigrant in New York * Rosalind Harris as Mrs. Lowenstein, Sadie's mother, a Jewish immigrant * Sabrina Bryan as Fritzie * David Norona as Marcello Damoroco, an Italian immigrant in New York, who is in love with Sadie * Bryan Murray (actor), Bryan Murray as Police Officer Doyle, an Irish immigrant in New YorkProduction
''Mrs. Santa Claus'' was filmed from August 12 to September 19, 1996, at the following studios: * Universal Studios, Universal City, California – exterior scenes of New York City at New York Street backlot set (Stage 22); * Stewart Stages, Valencia, Santa Clarita, California, Valencia, California – interior scenes of Santa Claus' workshop and Santa's office sets; * Havenhurst Studios, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, Van Nuys, California – blue screen filming of Mrs. Claus in the red sleigh pulled by a herd of reindeer. The film's musical score was written by Jerry Herman, the composer of such hit Broadway theatre, Broadway musicals as ''Hello, Dolly! (musical), Hello, Dolly!'' and ''La Cage aux Folles (musical), La Cage aux Folles''. Directed by Terry Hughes (director), Terry Hughes, the costume designer was Bob Mackie with choreography by Rob Marshall. The executive producer, David Shaw, is the stepson of Angela Lansbury. Screenwriter Mark Saltzman based some of the script on family stories of the Lower East Side of Manhattan.Soundtrack
The original television cast recording of ''Mrs. Santa Claus'' was recorded from August 8 to 22, 1996 at O'Henry Sound Studios in Burbank, California. It was released on Compact disc, CD and Compact Cassette, cassette tape by RCA Records, RCA Victor on November 26, 1996. ;Track listingReception
Nielsen ratings
The film's original broadcast brought in a 14.7/22 rating share, easily winning its timeslot, and tying with a special Thursday repeat of ''Men Behaving Badly (U.S. TV series), Men Behaving Badly'' on NBC, for #3 out of 110 programs airing that week.Awards and nominations
Home media
''Mrs. Santa Claus'' was released on VHS and Laserdisc on October 21, 1997, and again on VHS September 18, 2001. It was first released on DVD on September 23, 2003, and was out of print until a 2018 reissue by Sonar Entertainment.See also
* List of Christmas films * Santa Claus in filmReferences
External links