“I hear you’ve got a Santa?” That’s what a co-worker once asked.

Yes, it’s true. I’m friends with Santa Claus.

For a long time, I’ve known a guy who’s been playing Santa professionally. He’s been doing it for 40 years now. Of course, that’s not all he does. He also performs as an Elton John. He’s made live appearances as Beetlejuice. He does a remarkable W.C. Fields. And he’s worn the full makeup of a Star Trek Klingon. It’s all part of being a working actor.

And he’s an excellent actor — but he’s an even better Santa.

Me? I’m a writer. And I wrote a short film about Santa — the kind of Christmas story I wanted to see but no one had made, so I wrote it. And I knew the perfect guy to play Saint Nick.

He did such a good job as Santa Claus that the short film became a festival favorite. Then it became an award-winning film. And now it’s been turned into a book (Santa Doesn’t Need Your Help from Turner Publishing. “Heaps of holiday fun!” — Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books.)

I didn’t want to do the usual book promotion. (Go to a bookstore and read the book aloud.) That’s nice — but I’ve got a Santa.

So, I invited him to do a show. “Come to Pelham. We’ll show the short film. Or read the book live. Whichever the audience wants.”

My Santa said yes, so now we’re doing a show where you get to participate in the show.

We came up with a fun show where the audience gets to vote on what they want to see. We’ll give them a choice of clips from stop-motion Christmas specials and then screen the favorite. We’ll do a sing-along. We’ll have a dance break where everyone can get up and dance.

Immediately after the show, everybody can get a picture with Santa – and see what a great Santa he is. And once everyone’s done and they get their photo and they get their book signed and the ushers are sweeping up the spilled popcorn, then I’ll get a picture, too. Because you’re never too old for a photo with Santa.

See Kevin talk about his book in this video.

Get your tickets to meet Santa on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10:00 am