VPA’s ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ continues this weekend

WASILLA — Days before making his directing debut, Milo Elver was confident his crew of more than 30 actors will give audiences memorable performances in the Valley Performing Arts rendition of “Miracle on 34th Street.”

“They really pulled out stuff last night acting wise that really impressed me,” Elver said last week.

The play opened on Nov. 23. This weekend, Elver and his crew will have three more opportunities to impress. “Miracle on 34th Street” continues Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Valley Performing Arts theatre in Wasilla.

This play derives from Meredith Wilson’s 1963 musical adaptation of the original, 1947 movie with the same title. The story follows a single mother, Doris Walker, and her 6-year-old daughter Susan. Susan doesn’t believe in Santa Clause in the beginning because Doris didn’t want her to go around with any romantic ideation. Their neighbor and Doris’ love interest, Fred Gailey, tries to enchant Susan by taking her to see the Santa at Macey’s in hopes of winning Doris’ heart. Doris works at Macey’s and was not very impressed by Fred’s gesture but the mall Santa may just be the real deal.

Elver said that someone told him that he “broke all the rules” for directing his first play.

“They said don’t give the director a big, Christmas play and don’t give them a musical,” Elver said with a laugh. “Now I can see why.”

Elver said that aside from having strong leadership skills, an effective director for a play of this magnitude needs to also be a keen organizer.

“There’s a lot of moving parts,” Elver said.

Elver became involved with VPA almost three years ago. He said that this is the first play he’s ever directed with them or anyone.

“I’m still nervous,” Elver said.

The songs in this play are very fast paced, according to Elver. He said that they are also chock-full of references from the 1940s.

“There’s a lot of fun songs to sing and clap to,” Elver said.

He said that arranging the music numbers was one of the most difficult challenges. But thanks to loads of practice, the dedicated actors and other VPA members on the crew like the music director, Sam Krauser, and stage manager, Melody Paynter, everything worked.

“Everybody kept saying, other directors I talked to, they said, It’ll come together. It all comes together. It happens. There were times I didn’t believe them but it did. It came together,” Elver said.

Elver started at VPA helping out in various ways. With his IT background, he’s proven to be helpful in the sound department. He said that he recently installed a new EQ system and there will be more sound projects down the road.

Elver also spent time as a stage manager for several plays, watching and learning from the directors then keeping their vision on track for the show times. Now that the play is ready to premier, he said that his duties are more or less over.

“Now it’s up to the stage manager. I get to step back and watch and take notes,” Elver said.

Elver said it’s been more than 20 years since he’s acted on stage but VPA members were able to convince him to return to the limelight in their upcoming adaptation of “The Little Mermaid.” He said that he will probably direct again and take on other various roles at the VPA.

“The cast has been really great,” Elver said. “I think for me it’s more about being with friends and family.”

Performances continue on the weekends through Dec. 16, Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. General admission is $22 students and seniors get in for $20.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com