Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus

Production Company
PoMo Players
Producer(s)
Wilson Fowlie, Paul Wiebe
Director(s)
Cindy Peterson
Casting Director(s): 
Cindy Peterson
Union Status
Non-Union
Project Type
Theatre / Live Performance
Student Production
No
Compensation Details

This is a volunteer-based, unpaid, non-union production.

Audition Date(s)
August 23, 24, 29
Audition Location
PoMoArts (2425 St. Johns Street, Port Moody, V3H 2B2)
Shoot / Performance Date(s)
December 10, 11, 12
Shoot / Performance Location(s)
Inlet United Church, Port Moody
Submission Deadline
Saturday, August 29, 2026
Submission Instructions

To reserve your audition slot, either:
Visit auditions.pomoplayers.ca to fill out basic information and we'll get back to you with an audition time. Or,
Email auditions@pomoplayers.ca with your preferred audition availability.
Please feel free to email us if you have questions or require further information.
Actors will be assigned an audition timeslot and all actors will receive sides at the audition to read. Memorization of the sides is not required.
If you are unable to attend in person, please let us know in your submission as we may be able to accept a limited number of self-tapes.

Audition Details:
Sunday, August 23rd - slots between 1:30-4:30pm
Monday, August 24th - slots between 6-9pm
Saturday, August 29th - slots between 1-4pm (may also be used for callbacks)
At PoMoArts - 2425 St Johns St, Port Moody BC V3H 2B2
We welcome submissions from actors of all backgrounds, abilities, identities, and ethnicities.

Project Synopsis
Inspired by a simple, poignant letter written over 100 years ago by 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon to the editor of the New York Sun—and by the timeless editorial response printed on the front page of the Sun. Virginia wondered and wrote: "Dear Editor, I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says if you see it in the Sun, it's so. Please tell me the truth. Is there a Santa Claus?" Ed Mitchell, the Sun's editor, gives the assignment of answering Virginia's letter to Frank Church who, until his wife and baby died last Christmas Eve, was the Sun's best and most dependable reporter. Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus is a play for young and old, magically reaffirming life's highest beauty and joy—"the eternal light with which childhood fills the world."
Additional Information & Safety Protocols: 

Rehearsals will take place in Port Moody on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-9 PM and Sundays from 1-4 PM beginning late September 2026 (no rehearsals on stat holidays). All cast may not be called for all rehearsals, but it is requested that all cast are not unavailable for more than 3 scheduled rehearsals. It is expected that children's roles will rehearse only on Sundays for the first month of rehearsals, and then will switch to rehearsals Sundays, Mondays & Wednesdays as we get closer to the performance dates.

Tech and Dress Rehearsals: December 6-9 in the evenings at Inlet United Church, 2315 Spring Street. All cast are required to be available for all tech and dress rehearsals.
Performances: December 10th, 11th and 12th at 7 PM, and December 12th at 2 PM. All cast are required to be available for all performances.

Both PoMoArts and Inlet United Church are wheelchair accessible.

Character 1
Various
Age
6-12
Gender
Female
Description
Various roles including: Virginia O'Hanlon (age 8), Virginia's friend Maria Donnelli, Virginia's classmates Susan and Julie.
Character 2
Various
Age
18+
Gender
Male
Description
Various roles including: Virginia's father James O'Hanlon, Newspaper Editor Edward Mitchell, Newspaper writer Frank Church, Domonic Donnelli, various police officers, bartenders, workers, colleagues and friends
Character 3
Various
Age
18-40
Gender
Female
Description
Various roles including: Virginia's mother Evie O'Hanlon, newspaper writer Andrea Borland, Celeste Donnelli
Character 4
Various
Age
6-12
Gender
Male
Description
Various roles including: Virginia's younger brother Sean O'Hanlon, newsboy