Though the shops seem to commence their yuletide spruiking earlier with each passing year, the Christmas period is fleeting. It begins to look a lot like Christmas when carollers stalk our shopping centres and actors in jolly red suits beckon little ones to approach and impart their festive wish list. 

Christmas is time to replay our favourite Christmas movies; to revisit that miracle on 54th street or relate to the Griswolds family as they navigate their stressful Christmas. It might mean your annual intake of plum pudding, egg nog; or that singular opportunity to pull a Christmas cracker.  It’s a merry time that beckons us to haul out the holy and to put up the tree, before our spirits fall … again! 

But in the worlds of the Broadway musical, Christmas is a setting, a period, a backdrop, a location, a moment; that is called upon to elicit an emotional engagement. STAGES was recently spinning some show tunes and was caught by the magnificent Christmas sequence (The Twelve Days to Christmas) in the jewel box musical, She Loves Me. A golden age musical that takes place over the Christmas period, providing an enchanting backdrop for the two protagonists to slowly realise that they are destined for each other. This show tune set off a challenge to compile a list of musicals that are set at Christmas time or feature a Christmas themed song. The show might even feature a scene set at Christmas time. The challenge became obsessive. 

Then it dawned that the the best source to seek out, to satisfy the search for Santas and snow in the show tune, would be none other than our favourite showbiz oracle, Tony Sheldon. Sheldon is one of our favourite Australian actors and theatre-makers. Show business is the family business and he has tread the boards on national and global stages for several decades. His respect, passion and investigation of the entertainment industry has equipped him with an infinite knowledge of all things show. 

So, the challenge to provide STAGES with a stocking stuffed with shows and show tunes celebrating and set during the festive season was met with the excitement of Old Saint Nick delivering toys on Christmas morning. This is the perfect episode to indulge as you wrap your gifts and get in the Christmas mood. We may be rushing things but deck the halls again now! 

Merry Christmas from Sheldy, and STAGES. 

The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Recipient of Best New Podcast at 2019 Australian Podcast Awards. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages). www.stagespodcast.com.au