"The Santa Switch" Is Sleigh-in' It
Earlier this year, MTI announced the acquisition of The Santa Switch as part of the Lively McCabe Entertainment “Hits Musicals Collection.” This heartwarming musical is infused with popular tunes and Christmas classics that help tell a tale of Santa and Mrs. Claus like never before. With a book by Jeremy Desmon (The Girl In The Frame, Pump Up The Volume ) and arrangements and orchestrations by Jesse Vargas, this holiday jukebox musical was recently produced last Christmas season at the Titusville Playhouse in Titusville, Florida . The Santa Switch transports its audience to the North Pole, making it a joyous way to celebrate the holidays.
The Santa Switch is the magical tale of how Santa and Mrs. Claus try to retire and pass the baton to the new Santa. When the magic sleigh bells choose a young New York ad exec for the iconic position, he declines the offer, putting the North pole and the fate of Christmas in jeopardy of disappearing forever.
Itfeatures a score with the hit Christmas songs "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree," and "A Holly Jolly Christmas," as well as popular songs including "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong, "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors, and Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway," among many others.
The Santa Switch at the Titusville Playhouse brought a wondrous time for audiences of all ages. Broadway World shared that The Santa Switch “is like a warm cup of cocoa by the fire on a chilly Christmas Eve.”
Book writer Jeremy Desmon and director Steven Heron shared their insights with us on how they brought the Christmas extravaganza to life.
Where did your inspiration in writing The Santa Switch come from?
Desmon: I’ve always loved the idea that “Santa Claus” isn’t just a guy — it’s a job. And so I asked myself a simple, rather silly question: What if Santa wanted to retire? Once I asked it, I couldn’t un-ask it. Because… why wouldn’t he? We always see the jolly ol’ fellow at peak joy, but what about the burnout? After all, he’s the CEO of a year-round, global toy manufacturing and distribution empire with incredibly complex logistics, all topped off with a twenty-four-hour, high-speed, overnight delivery shift with zero margin for error and incredibly specific, never-ending demands from the world’s children, i.e., his “customers.” Oh, and did I mention the lifetime contract? So, I guess at some point, anyone in that position’s going to crave a beach chair and nap. And that made me laugh. (Which usually means I’m onto something.) And then? Well, then, an even more fun question occurred to me: Who replaces Santa? I was hooked. The answer, of course, was… someone not sweet. Someone not ready to fill those boots. In some ways, the worst choice imaginable. A guy who is built for ambition, status and material success suddenly being told: “Congrats! Your new job is selflessness!” That felt like a show. And then, the best part is we tell the whole story through my favorite character in the piece, Lucy. She’s an unstoppable diner waitress-slash-artist with forty-three rejection letters and somehow still… hope. Which, in a way, makes her the most dangerous person in the show. She has no business believing in people as much as she does. But she does. She’s the heart of it all. Lucy is the spirit of Christmas.
This show features popular holiday songs, what was the process like in choosing the right songs to help drive the plot?
Desmon:To me, story is king. I want the audience to disappear into a story and a world… and not feel like they are listening to a random playlist of someone’s favorite songs. Every song needs to feel like it was written precisely for that story moment. It has to do something — reveal character, shift a relationship or push the story forward. (Or be very, very funny!) If the song doesn’t fit into any of these buckets, it doesn’t make the cut. The Santa Switch is filled to the brim with incredibly well-known songs, but this is not a “greatest hits album.” In a way, it becomes like casting. You pore through thousands and thousands of songs and ask: does this one fit seamlessly into the show we’re creating? If so, we’re golden. Of course, then we go through the arduous music publishing clearance process. But then? Once the publisher approves the song, our brilliant music arranger, Jesse Vargas, works his magic to make the moment “sing.” And bit by bit — hit by hit — the show reveals itself.
Did any of your own holiday traditions influence how you approached The Santa Switch?
Desmon:Well, I actually come at Christmas from a slightly different angle than a lot of folks. I grew up Jewish! But who doesn’t LOVE Christmas?! The music, the cookies, the presents, the family time… The whole Santa industrial complex… I love it all. There’s just something about the feeling of the season that’s undeniable. Even if it’s not your holiday, you still feel the shift when those lights start twinkling. There’s a sense that something meaningful is supposed to be happening. And it’s all just so incredibly theatrical and emotional and fun. I wrote The Santa Switch so audiences could come together and share that joyful spirit of the season.
What are some special moments in the production that speak to the heart of the show?
Desmon:For me, it’s the quiet turns. Santa in the diner realizing he might want something different. Lucy choosing to keep going even after so much rejection. Jack slowly being forced to confront a version of himself he’s never had to look at before. The show is big and musical and chaotic in the best way, but those small human moments are what give it weight. Also, I love any time Mrs. Claus takes charge. I mean, she’s been waiting a hundred years for this moment!
What themes do you hope people take away from The Santa Switch?
Desmon:That it’s OK to change. And maybe, more importantly, in a world that sometimes feels like it’s spinning out of control, that it’s OK to not know what comes next. Both Santa and Jack are at these turning points for totally different reasons, but they’re dealing with the same core question: if I stop being the thing I’ve always been… then who am I? Hopefully the show makes that feel a little less scary. And maybe even exciting.
What is one piece of advice you would give to theaters licensing The Santa Switch in the future?
Desmon:I’d say: go all in. Because this show rewards you for it. It’s got the big, crowd-pleasing elements you want in a holiday production — familiar songs, a fun central premise, loads of comedy and energy — but it also has a real story underneath it. It’s not just “put on a Santa suit and sing a few carols.” You’ve got a built-in audience hook and a piece that actors actually get to dig into, which is a pretty great combination. So my advice is: treat it like both. Let it be joyful and theatrical and a little over-the-top, but trust that there’s something meaningful at the center of it. I think that’s why audiences and performers have fallen in love with it.
Anything else you want to add?
Desmon:Just that this show was a blast to write. It’s one of those pieces where the tone, the music and the story all clicked into place in a joyful and magical way. And at the end of the day, it’s about people trying to figure out how to take the next step — with a little more courage, a little more generosity and maybe a slightly better understanding of what actually matters. Which is a big swing… but, hey, it’s Christmas!
Why should people see The Santa Switch during the holidays?
Heron:The holidays are about connection, nostalgia, and a little bit of magic—and The Santa Switch really delivers all of that in a fresh, unexpected way. It’s got heart, humor, and music that people already love, so audiences feel instantly at home. But beyond that, it tells a story that reminds us why this season matters in the first place. It’s the kind of show where families can come together, laugh, maybe tear up a little, and walk out feeling lighter. That’s what we’re always chasing in theatre, especially during the holidays.
Can you talk about the holiday-themed lobby experience you created at Titusville Playhouse? How did patrons respond?
Heron:We really wanted the experience to begin the moment you walked in the door, so we created a lobby that felt just as magical as the show itself. One of the centerpieces was this beautiful Christmas tree that doubled as a photo moment, but what made it really special was how personal it was—it was decorated with copies of childhood letters to Santa from well-known figures, along with letters from our own cast, crew, and members of the community. We also built in an interactive element for kids. We had a station where they could sit down, write their own letters to Santa—crayons and all—and then drop them into a mailbox in the lobby. And after the show, we extended that experience onstage with a photo opportunity with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, where children could hand-deliver their letters or add them to the mailbox. What really stuck with me was watching kids of all ages completely lose themselves in it—sitting there, carefully writing their letters, totally engaged in the moment. It wasn’t just a decoration; it became part of the storytelling. The response was incredible. Families lingered, took their time, and really made an event out of the whole evening. It felt like we created something that went beyond the performance and became a memory for people.
What advice would you give to other directors looking to mount the show?
Heron:Trust the heart of it. The show works because it’s sincere—it’s not trying to be ironic or overly flashy. If you ground it in truth and relationships, the spectacle will take care of itself. Also, cast performers who can really connect with the material. The music may be familiar, but the storytelling has to feel specific and alive. And don’t be afraid to lean into the joy. Holiday shows sometimes get treated as “extra,” but this one deserves the same level of care and intention as anything else in your season. Most of all HAVE FUN and remember your own childhood wonder during the holidays!
What suggestions would you give to theatres with limited budgets and space?
Heron:Focus on atmosphere over scale. You don’t need a massive set to create magic—you just need thoughtful choices and honest storytelling. Lighting, sound, and a few strong visual elements can go a long way. And honestly, the audience fills in a lot with their imagination, especially during the holidays. If the performances are strong and the storytelling is clear, people will meet you halfway. Sometimes constraints lead to more creative, intimate solutions that make the show feel even more special and uniquely yours.
What did you love most about developing a holiday themed jukebox musical?
Heron:There’s something really exciting about taking songs people already have an emotional connection to and recontextualizing them. You’re not just telling a story—you’re layering it with memory and nostalgia. It was also incredible to take our knowledge of what audience love and support and communicate it with the authors and have it become major moments in the show. I loved finding those moments where a song suddenly meant something new because of the character singing it. That’s the magic of a jukebox musical when it works—it surprises you. And during the holidays, when music is already such a huge part of people’s lives, it just hits differently.
Anything else you want to add?
Heron:Just that developing something new like The Santa Switch has been incredibly special. It really speaks to what Titusville Playhouse can do—not just produce great theatre, but create something new that truly connects with people. Seeing the community embrace it the way they did has been the most rewarding part—and honestly, that’s the whole reason we do this. It reminds you that theatre, at its best, brings people together and creates shared memories. Especially during the holidays, that feels meaningful. What’s been especially powerful with this show is how it brings families of all generations together. Because it’s a jukebox musical, you’ve got classic songs that resonate with older audiences and more modern hits that younger audiences connect with—all with a new holiday twist. It creates this shared experience where everyone finds something that speaks to them, and everyone walks away with that same sense of joy. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
