Improv Playhouse Becomes Winter Wonderland, Offers Santa Visits

Santa Claus and Mrs. Clause or Buddy the Elf are all coming to the Improv Playhouse Theater Winter Wonderland for your “in-person” family visits this holiday season - just don't try to sit on Santa’s lap.

Improv Playhouse will be doing all that they can to keep the Jolly Old Elf and you safe, including restricting all children from sitting on his knee no matter if they’ve been naughty or nice! Despite the pandemic, the theater company has been holding programming for adults and children, abiding by the standard protocols from the State. Improv Playhouse pivoted to hybrid programming in March and hasn’t looked back since.

“We have just been super creative in keeping everyone as safe as possible as well as meeting the essential programming needs for those who desire to be in-person, “ says David Stuart, the Executive Director and Founder of IP. “Out of safety concerns and other logistical issues we did not want to compromise the risk to our mature actors for our now cancelled production of It’s a Wonderful Life. So as an alternative to our traditional holiday programming we are creating a Winter Wonderland in our Annex space and opening up for Santa visits!”

Improv Playhouse is taking every precaution and is doing all it can to keep guests and Santa safe given the fact that St. Nick’s age and weight put him at high risk for illness from the coronavirus. Stuart says, “The young ones will instead tell Santa what they want for Christmas from six feet away and our visitors will be required to wear face masks, even while posing for photos. Folks should bring their own smart phones or cameras to capture this wonderful memory. Santa and his helpers will be wearing clear face shields. Santa will be seated behind a six and a half foot high Marvelous Magical Santa Shield. We’ll have gift boxes and other decorations in front of “Kris Kringle” to block little children from coming to close”.

Santa's hours are also getting cut to give him a break from crowds, being limited to Saturdays and Sundays only, December 5- 20, Noon to 5pm. Once in the IP Annex, all families complete a temperature screening with a non-contact thermometer and stand in a designated area to allow for physical distancing. Between reservations The Mrs. Claus Cleanup Crew will sanitize the space. Parents are required to make online reservations in advance and once at Improv Playhouse, have permission to photograph and video tape their sessions as a keepsake. Walk-ups are welcomed, but will be placed on standby until sanitizing has been done or if another group occupies the space. There is a small upgrade option to include a musical Christmas wish sung by the actors for each reservation. For more information call Improv Playhouse at 847-968-4529 or make your reservations at improvplayhouse.com. The Improv Playhouse Winter Wonderland Visit with Santa will be at the IP Annex, 733 N. Milwaukee Avenue in the Liberty Square shopping center, Libertyville.

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