The magic of Christmas is coming to Macon Little Theatre in the holiday classic “Miracle on 34th Street.”

The musical is based on the 1947 movie of the same title and is the story of a Macy’s department store Santa and his effect on those he meets.

“The movie came out first,” said Sylvia Haynie, who is artistic director for the Macon Little Theatre production. “That (movie) is such a beloved classic. People watch from year to year and lots of families have a tradition of watching that movie.”

The play was written in 1963 by Meredith Wilson, who is best known for “The Music Man,” and originally published under the title “Here’s Love.”

“It’s a very loyal adaptation,” Haynie said. “It centers around the character who is referred to as the bearded gentleman who presents himself on the day of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and sort of saves the day ... and he proceeds to win the hearts of not just the little girl who doesn’t believe, but her mother and pretty much everyone who encounters him.”

This includes R.H. Macy and the mayor of New York.

“There are quite a few real people who are incorporated into this story,” Haynie said.

The play’s main character, Kris Kringle, is being played by Lewis Chapman, who is making his first foray into acting, Haynie said.

“The way we found him was kind of as magical as the way he appears in the play,” she said. “He just kind of fell into finding out about us. He’s never played Santa before but his beard and hair are real and he looks for all the world like he just left the North Pole.”

The Macon Little Theatre production will include a larger cast than the play indicated.

“(Haynie) wanted to involve as many people as she could because it is community theater and Macon Little Theatre likes to do that,” said John Jones, who manages the theater. “We’re here to produce good quality shows ... and at the same time to include a lot of the community, and this show will have a large community factor in it.”

Haynie said the production is a family affair with 30 of the 59 cast members related to one another.

“We have lots of parents and children,” Haynie said. “The moms and dads are in their first play ever because they are there to support their child and it’s a fun thing to do together as a family.”

The show’s musical director is Laura Voss, who co-owns the Academy of the Performing Arts with Haynie.

“(Voss) really sets about teaching and developing the vocal music but I happen to also play the piano and it just works for out well for us as a team that I accompany for the rehearsals and then just slide right into playing for the show as well,” Haynie said.

Haynie and Voss have directed all of Macon Little Theatre’s musicals for the past several years.

“I call them the complete package. They do it all,” Jones said. “We do three musicals a year. We do a holiday musical, a summer musical and a spring musical and they have directed all of them.”

“Miracle on 34th Street”

When: 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday and Wednesday-Dec. 8; 2:30 p.m. Sunday and Dec. 9

Where: Macon Little Theatre, 4220 Forsyth Road

Cost: $18 adults, $15 seniors, $10 students

Information: 471-7529 or 474-3342