In a time when the holidays look significantly different, one thing remains the same: the wishes children make to Santa Claus during the holiday season. This year, ABC Players are taking those wishes and bringing them to life on stage in socially distanced performances on Dec. 19 and 20 at 7 p.m. at Stuart’s Opera House.

The performance, “ABC Players Letters to Santa,” is an original production made up of letters to Santa written and performed by 14 children from Southeast, Ohio. The recorded performance will be available to watch online at www.stuartsoperahouse.org.

“We wanted to provide some theater involvement and a creative outlet for the children of this area during these difficult times,” Jodi MacNeal, director and President of ABC Players, said. “We unfortunately could not do a big production this year due to COVID. This production allowed the children and adults to be creative and use their own words to express their feelings and thoughts. They have the opportunity to have their voice heard while having fun and celebrating the holidays.”

The production splits the stage into two separate parts. One part of the stage shows Santa sitting at the North Pole, and the other side of the stage changes, with each child reading their own letter to Santa from their own, cozy space.

The cast includes Addi Mcdonald, Austin Dellinger, Morris L’Heureux, Quinn Duquette, Madison King, Eliza Kopenski, Leah Swatzel, Luke Hashman, Jozlyn Bew, Lila Dishong, Emaline Duquette, Jojo Bew, Tatum L’Heureux, Addie McGarry and Chris MacNeal playing the role of Santa Claus. Jim and Celeste Parsons, dedicated members of the company and executive board, also wrote a song adaptation included in the show. Other integral members who worked on this performance include Tbone McCauley, Mike Gimmer, Kevin Price and Sydney Lewis.

“I participated in Santa Letters because it brought some holiday cheer into this long year,” Leah Swatzel said. “This production also filled the gap of the seasonal show that I love to be a part of, and I got to spend some time with my theater family.”

Addie McGarry stated, “I did this production because even though we cannot physically be together, spreading Christmas magic with my theater family brought joy into mine and hopefully into other lives.”

Admission is free to the public, with donations accepted and encouraged. All donations support Stuart’s Opera House, a historic opera house in downtown Nelsonville, Ohio that provides arts programming to the area. Donations can be made at www.stuartsoperahouse.org or PO Box 217, Nelsonville, OH 45764.