MTI musical · Full-length
The Santa SwitchScript, Piano/Vocal Score & show details
- Full-length · 2 acts
- Small–Medium cast (up to 20)
- Roles: 3 women · 3 men · 1 any-gender + ensemble
- PG
The printed Santa Switch script comes with your MTI license. The digital version is a separate add-on for your whole cast and crew. See pricing
The Santa Switch synopsis
Book by Jeremy Desmon · Arrangements and Orchestrations by Jesse Vargas
Set in mid-century New York City and the North Pole, The Santa Switch is the magical tale of how Santa and Mrs. Claus try to retire and pass the baton to the new Santa. When the magic sleigh bells choose a young New York ad exec for the iconic position, he declines the offer, putting the North pole and the fate of Christmas in jeopardy of disappearing forever.
The Santa Switch includes the hit Christmas songs "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree," and "A Holly Jolly Christmas," as well as popular songs including "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong, "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors, and Kelly Clarkson's "Breakaway," among many others.
Full synopsis
Act One
After nearly a century in the red suit, Santa Claus has grown tired of the job ("Best Day of My Life"). On Christmas morning 1958, he meets an optimistic aspiring artist named Lucy Wells who inspires him to pursue his unspoken dreams of living by the beach ("Breakaway"), so he decides to retire and pass the baton to a new Santa.
Back the North Pole ("Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"), Santa convinces Mrs. Claus that it's time for them to start a new chapter in retirement. Guided by the mystical sleigh bells of SinterKlaas ("The Bells of SinterKlaas"), a successor is chosen: Jack Chase, a young advertising executive from New York. He's ambitious, materialistic, cynical, and… the last person anyone would expect to become the next Santa ("What I Like About You"). Mrs. Claus and the elves take to New York City to recruit Jack, who believes they have come to give him the job promotion he's been awaiting ("Good To Be Alive (Hallelujah)"). Jack declines the offer, and the fate of Christmas is put in jeopardy, threatening to make the magic of the season disappear forever ("The Twelve Days of Christmas").
When they find that Lucy is the reason for Santa's quick change of heart, Mrs. Claus and the elves find Lucy to fix her mistake and convince Jack to embrace his extraordinary destiny before Christmas arrives ("What A Wonderful World").
Lucy brings Jack the magical Santa Sack and news of his Santa Magic, and just as their hearts begin to soften toward each other, Lucy finds that Jack has been using his magic for selfish gain ("(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag"). Disheartened, Lucy calls Mrs. Claus, who encourages her to not give up ("Fight Song"). Outside Jack's apartment, Lucy meets jolly Christopher "Topher" Kringlemeyer who runs a children's charity and is exactly the young Santa type ("(Everybody's Waitin' For) The Man With The Bag (Reprise)").
Act Two
At a charity event, Lucy brings Mrs. Claus to meet Topher ("Kringlez Kidz Medley"). Thinking the bells accidentally chose Jack when they were meant to choose Topher, Lucy tries to find the loophole to make Topher the new Santa ("Hold My Hand").
Jack senses a growing spark between Lucy and Topher and grows suspicious that Topher is not all that he seems. Inspired by Santa to make a change not for her, but for himself, Jack continues his lessons with Santa while Lucy shifts her focus to Topher ("Treat You Better"). Meanwhile at the North Pole, the elves are panicking about not having a Santa in time for Christmas ("Holly Jolly Christmas").
Back in New York City, a thoughtful gift from Jack begins to change Lucy's mind about him ("Fight Song (Reprise)"). On top of the Empire State Building, Santa and Mrs. Claus reaffirm their love for each other ("Still The One").
On Christmas Eve, they test the Bells of SinterKlaas once more, which seem to point to Topher this time. Jack is crushed by the news ("Breakaway (Reprise)"). Once in the position of new Santa, Topher's true selfish, lying, and stealing nature comes out. Lucy runs to Jack to see that his heart has truly changed, and he still has the real magic ("What A Wonderful World (Reprise)"). Together, they save Christmas and find each other after all ("On Top Of The World / Best Day of My Life Reprise (Finale)").
Synopsis courtesy of Music Theatre International (MTI).
The Santa Switch characters & vocal ranges
The Santa Switch musical has 6 named roles plus an ensemble, for a small to medium cast (up to 20). Many roles can be cast across gender. ‘Written as’ reflects how MTI lists each role.
| Character | Written as | Vocal range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lucy | Female | D5–G3 | Idealistic. Plucky. Loyal. An aspiring artist, Lucy came to New York in search of her place in the world. She believes in the inherent goodness of people; her optimism in the human spirit is infectious. It also gets her in trouble (Age: 20s/30s). |
| Jack | Male | Bb4–Bb2 | Ambitious. Charismatic. Cynical. Great hair. With a chip on his shoulder, Jack is a high-powered advertising executive gunning for his next score. Smooth with the ladies and emotionally distant, he’s not the guy you’d peg to don a red velvet suit and pass out toys to girls and boys. Oops (Age: 20s/30s). |
| Santa Claus | Male | E4–B2 | At first glance, he’s the jolly, bearded gent of yore with a belly full of jelly. But he’s now at a turning point: after a century in the sleigh, he doesn’t quite have the passion for the grind he once did. Might it be time to pass the reins? |
| Mrs. Claus | Female | E5–Ab3 | The bespectacled, gray-haired matron of The North Pole, she’s always been satisfied as the “woman behind the Big Man.” When she’s forced to step up and save Christmas, she realizes she likes calling the shots! And she’s great at it. |
| Rhubarb | Female | E5–B3 | Santa’s no-nonsense, upbeat Head Elf with an aggressively “cheerful” demeanor. Loves Christmas with a chipper, adorable intensity heretofore unknown in the mortal world. |
| Topher | Male | E4–D3 | Unflinchingly kind and warmhearted. Almost “too nice,” Topher runs Kringlez Kidz, a children’s charity. If Santa were a socially awkward young professional in mid-century Manhattan, this jovial square is how you’d imagine him. |
| Ensemble | Not listed | Not listed | The ensemble plays a number of roles, including various children, diner denizens, salespeople, a sparkle of elves (including Cinnamon, Juniper, Gingersnap, Glitterpants, Becky and others), Arthur, Hildy, Chester, Operator, bar patrons, Mrs. Callaway, Businessman, Kringlez Kidz Dancers, partygoers, security guards and others. |
The Santa Switch song list
- Best Day of My Life
- Breakaway
- Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
- Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree (Reprise)
- The Bells of SinterKlaas
- What I Like About You
- Good to be Alive (Hallelujah)
- The Twelve Days of Christmas
- What A Wonderful World
- (Everybody's Waiting For) The Man With The Bag
- Fight Song
- Kringlez Kidz Medley
- Hold My Hand
- Treat You Better
- A Holly Jolly Christmas
- Fight Song (Reprise)
- Still the One
- Breakaway (Reprise)
- What A Wonderful World (Reprise)
- On Top of The World / Best Day of My Life (Reprise) (Finale)
- Megamix
How to get the Santa Switch script & Piano/Vocal Score
The printed materials come with your MTI license. The digital version is an add-on that gives your whole cast and crew immediate access. See what that looks like
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Delivered through ProductionPro, MTI’s exclusive digital delivery partner. Looking for a free Santa Switch script PDF? The script comes with your MTI license, so it isn’t available on its own.
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