Jorstad leads locals in Christmas Classic, Miracle on 34th Street

Santa Claus doesn’t get much more real than Steve Jorstad.

When he steps on the Sheldon Theatre stage this weekend as Kris Kringle, the audience won’t be alone in suspending disbelief.

“Oh yeah,” the Kenyon-Wanamingo attorney admitted. When he’s up on stage, he feels like he really is Santa. … er, Kris Kringle.

Jorstad joins a large cast of local residents in staging “Miracle on 34th Street” under the direction of Min Martin Oakes.

The Phoenix Theatre production will have performances at 7 p.m. Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $16 for adults, $10 for students.

Jorstad is prepared. He has been rehearsing the Santa Claus role for about three years.

The Kenyon native was involved in theater while in high school, but did not get involved again until 2004. He started doing some emceeing, which he enjoyed, and performed in community theater productions in Wanamingo and Zumbrota.

For the past few years, he noted, “I’ve had the ‘Santa look’.”

His hair is naturally white, and he’s been letting it grow a little longer — and his beard get a little fluffier — in wintertime.

Last year he appeared as Santa for Christmas in Wanamingo, and later this month he’ll reprise the role for the Rochester Civic Orchestra.

Tags: applause, miracle, on, 34th, street