Local Holiday Classic Brings Wide Community Cast to Main Street LIVE

The Miracle on 34th Street opened at Main Street LIVE in Trinidad last weekend, presenting a full scale holiday production that engaged dozens of local performers and volunteers. The run, which began Friday evening and continued through the weekend with additional performances scheduled for December 19 through December 21, showcased a cast reported at 37 on stage performers and a broad crew handling costumes, lighting and sound.

Director Beki Woods, who led the production, emphasized the story's emotional reach and the communal purpose of staging a seasonal classic. She said, "It’s about believing in something, even if logic says you shouldn’t, and being a kid again and sharing the love. It speaks to the spirit of giving, not profits and the evils of rampant capitalism. It reminds me that there is still good in this world despite the overwhelming negativity we often focus on." Woods has decades of stage experience across the region, drawing on long term roles in acting and production to organize the show and encourage broader participation.

Main Street LIVE presented the performances Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. during the opening weekend, with a second weekend of shows scheduled the following week. The production served both as entertainment and as a practical rallying point for civic engagement in the arts, offering residents ways to contribute beyond acting, including costuming, lights, sound and stagecraft.

For Las Animas County the production represents more than seasonal entertainment. Local theater functions as an economic and cultural stimulant in Trinidad, bringing audiences into downtown businesses and reinforcing community ties at a time of year when public gatherings matter. The sizable local cast reflected volunteerism and local talent and provided experience and visibility for area artists.

As small scale arts organizations navigate limited budgets and volunteer dependent operations, productions like The Miracle on 34th Street serve as a reminder that community supported cultural programming can maintain year round civic life, provide practical workforce training in technical theater, and strengthen downtown activity during the holiday season.