St. Stephen of Hungary Students Starring in ‘Yes, Virginia: The Musical’ Film

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Pretending there is no Santa Claus may prove to be the hardest aspect of performing in “Yes, Virginia: The Musical” for child actors from Stephen of Hungary School on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

That, according to the school principal, is the precious conundrum the budding thespians face when the school raises the curtain on its first musical performance after winning a grant from Macys to fund two shows, Friday, Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m.

St. Stephen School is one of many across the country that received grants to perform the musical.

Students from all grades will bring to life the renowned Christmas classic based upon the true story of 8-year-old New Yorker Virginia O’Hanlon, who wrote a heartfelt letter to the editor of the New York Sun newspaper in 1897, innocently asking about the existence of Santa Claus.

St. Stephen’s thespians will also be the subject of a documentary about the making of the musical. (The documentary’s release date has yet to be announced.) It was appropriate that the students’ first day of rehearsal and documentary filming at the school on East 82nd Street was the feast day of a saint devoted to children: Dec. 6, the feast of St. Nicholas.

Sabrina Vidal, a fourth-grader, is cast as Virginia O’Hanlon. She said she can relate to her character. “I know that she believes in Santa. She’s a very hopeful person, and joyful.

“There are a few kids in my class who don’t believe in Santa and they say he isn’t real, but I think he’s real—in real life, too,” said Sabrina, who is 9.

Among the best acting advice she’s received is how to learn her lines. “The trick is to always know the line before mine,” she said, adding that “reading my lines kind of feels like homework.”

“Though I do have a lot of lines and I do have to practice, I get to experience something really amazing,” Sabrina said. “It’s really fun.”

When Sabrina grows up, she wants to be an actress, she said. “I always wanted to be an actress. This is practice.”

So she bides her time and learns the value of patience.

These days, Sabrina and her friends are counting down the days until Christmas. “In religion class, we’re learning a lot about Advent and we’re preparing,” she said.

Last year, Sabrina was cast as the Blessed Mother in St. Stephen’s Christmas pageant. Whether she’s praying or playing, she knows Christmas is all about the Christ Child.

“It’s when Christ was born,” Sabrina said. “You get happy when he comes, and hopeful about things. Jesus is coming. We should be thankful for that.”

During the first day of rehearsal, Sabrina said she was somewhat scared the play wouldn’t be ready when the curtain went up. But then she remembered to keep the faith and recast the troublesome thought. “I’m hopeful that Jesus will make us ready,” she said.

Katherine Peck, the principal, had high praise for the cast and crew and all associated with the school’s debut musical. “We’re thrilled and honored to see the whole community come together to support this historic event,” she said.

“Parents, grandparents, friends of the school and faculty have all donated their time and effort to help the students sing their hearts out,” Mrs. Peck added.

Audience members are encouraged to write letters to Santa at the performance, which will be delivered to Macy’s red Santa Letterbox as part of the store’s “Believe” program. For every letter received, Macys will donate $1, up to $1 million, to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

After the final performance, the set will be donated to Rising Stars Performing Arts Company, a nonprofit organization, to continue the production for more than 1,400 public school children in Yonkers as part of the re-opening of Paramount Theater.

Performances of “Yes Virginia: The Musical” at St. Stephen School are open to the public. Tickets are available in advance from the school office for $10 per seat or at the door for $15 if the performance is not sold out.

Information: St. Stephen of Hungary School, (212) 288-1989.