This preview article originally appeared in The Star & Wave newspaper on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
'Tis the Season to Catch Santa at Cape May Stage
By Lynn Martenstein
An Amazon driver mistakenly delivers a package to a wrong address in New York City on Christmas Eve, upending the lives of both the wrong and the right addressee. Both come to realize, however, that the mix-up has a happily-ever-after ending.
Making its world premiere at Cape May Stage this week, “Let’s Catch Santa” was written expressly for the theater by playwright Dan McCormick, a long-time collaborator with the historic playhouse . His new play celebrates both the joy and wonder of the holidays and the transformative power of friendship.
Shirley, a reclusive 30-something-year-old woman, finds the errant package on her doorstep two days after she moves into her new home. She has a good job at a local tech company and works remotely from home.
William, who is also a recluse, lives next door, and is who the package was intended for. A retired professor 40-some years her senior, he was once a highly respected astronomer who was fired from a promising career after claiming to have seen Santa and his reindeer making their rounds on Christmas Eve.
McCormick also wrote two of Cape May Stage’s earlier productions: “Becoming Satchel Paige” in 2022, which was nominated for Best Play by Broadway.com, and “Gravediggers” in 2020, which, given Covid restrictions at the time, was performed as a virtual reading.
“As a playwright, I’ve always liked the idea of two lost souls coming together in very unexpected ways,” he explained. “I was, in essence, discovering the story in the same way that the characters were, and I truly didn’t know what would happen next under the circumstances they found themselves in.”
The play’s major theme, he suggests, is that “Santa is, in essence, the spirit of goodness within all of us. Yet, if we seek it out again, that is to say, if we try and ‘catch Santa’ again, we can rediscover the goodness within ourselves and share it with others.”
Professional actor Beau Allen plays William in the production. “I see Santa as a metaphor for the big guy in the sky who is all-knowing and loving,” he explained. “We all yearn to be guided by someone bigger than ourselves.”
Fellow actor, Katie May Porter, who is also a filmmaker and comedian, portrays Shirley. “The play is about hope, connection and believing that there is good in the world,” she added.
Allen’s mad-scientist demeanor and childlike wonder play very well off Porter’s earnestness and practicality. Watching their relationship evolve will be a heartwarming gift to audiences.
The set for this show evokes the board game, Chutes and Ladders. Set designer Josh Iacovelle uses ladders, maps telescopes, ropes and Christmas decorations to create a fun, festive, over the top backdrop to tell this story.
“The set is filled with surprises, from the play’s opening moments to an unexpected scene change,” explained Roy Steinberg, the theater’s producing artistic director. “Our visual artists have created Christmas magic on our stage.”
“Let’s Catch Santa” is a 75-minute show with no intermission that runs November 19 through December 28. The show is best suited for adults and children over the age of 13. For tickets or more information, please call Cape May Stage’s box office at (609) 770-8311 or visit capemaystage.org.
An Amazon driver mistakenly delivers a package to a wrong address in New York City on Christmas Eve, upending the lives of both the wrong and the right addressee. Both come to realize, however, that the mix-up has a happily-ever-after ending.
Making its world premiere at Cape May Stage this week, “Let’s Catch Santa” was written expressly for the theater by playwright Dan McCormick, a long-time collaborator with the historic playhouse . His new play celebrates both the joy and wonder of the holidays and the transformative power of friendship.
Shirley, a reclusive 30-something-year-old woman, finds the errant package on her doorstep two days after she moves into her new home. She has a good job at a local tech company and works remotely from home.
William, who is also a recluse, lives next door, and is who the package was intended for. A retired professor 40-some years her senior, he was once a highly respected astronomer who was fired from a promising career after claiming to have seen Santa and his reindeer making their rounds on Christmas Eve.
McCormick also wrote two of Cape May Stage’s earlier productions: “Becoming Satchel Paige” in 2022, which was nominated for Best Play by Broadway.com, and “Gravediggers” in 2020, which, given Covid restrictions at the time, was performed as a virtual reading.
“As a playwright, I’ve always liked the idea of two lost souls coming together in very unexpected ways,” he explained. “I was, in essence, discovering the story in the same way that the characters were, and I truly didn’t know what would happen next under the circumstances they found themselves in.”
The play’s major theme, he suggests, is that “Santa is, in essence, the spirit of goodness within all of us. Yet, if we seek it out again, that is to say, if we try and ‘catch Santa’ again, we can rediscover the goodness within ourselves and share it with others.”
Professional actor Beau Allen plays William in the production. “I see Santa as a metaphor for the big guy in the sky who is all-knowing and loving,” he explained. “We all yearn to be guided by someone bigger than ourselves.”
Fellow actor, Katie May Porter, who is also a filmmaker and comedian, portrays Shirley. “The play is about hope, connection and believing that there is good in the world,” she added.
Allen’s mad-scientist demeanor and childlike wonder play very well off Porter’s earnestness and practicality. Watching their relationship evolve will be a heartwarming gift to audiences.
The set for this show evokes the board game, Chutes and Ladders. Set designer Josh Iacovelle uses ladders, maps telescopes, ropes and Christmas decorations to create a fun, festive, over the top backdrop to tell this story.
“The set is filled with surprises, from the play’s opening moments to an unexpected scene change,” explained Roy Steinberg, the theater’s producing artistic director. “Our visual artists have created Christmas magic on our stage.”
“Let’s Catch Santa” is a 75-minute show with no intermission that runs November 19 through December 28. The show is best suited for adults and children over the age of 13. For tickets or more information, please call Cape May Stage’s box office at (609) 770-8311 or visit capemaystage.org.