Mrs. Santa Claus

The movie is set in December 1910. Mrs. Santa Claus is trying to convince her husband, Santa Claus, to take a new route, but he is preoccupied with the Christmas rush and won't listen. Disgruntled, she takes the sleigh out herself, but is forced to land in New York City, where she is stranded when one of the reindeer (Cupid) becomes injured. As "Mrs. North", she takes up board with a family of Jewish immigrants who do not celebrate Christmas. She befriends many of the local children and women, and becomes involved with political issues of the period such as child labour and women's suffrage.

• Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Anna Claus
• Charles Durning as Santa Claus
• Terrence Mann as Augie Tavish, owner of Tavish Toys
• Michael Jeter as Arvo, Santa's Head Elf
• Debra Wiseman as Sadie Lowenstein, a Jewish immigrant girl who fights for women's rights
• Lynsey Bartilson as Nora Kilkenny, an Irish immigrant in New York
• Rosalind Harris as Mrs. Lowenstein, Sadie's mother, a Jewish immigrant
• David Norona as Marcello Damoroco, an Italian immigrant in New York, who is in love with Sadie
• Bryan Murray as Police Officer Doyle, an Irish immigrant in New York

Mrs. Santa Claus was filmed from August 12 to September 19, 1996 at the following studios:[3]

• Universal Studios, Universal City, California – exterior scenes of New York City at New York Street backlot set (Stage 22);
• Stewart Stages, Valencia, California – interior scenes of Santa Claus' workshop and Santa's office sets;
• Havenhurst Studios, Van Nuys, California – blue screen filming of Mrs. Claus in the red sleigh pulled by a herd of reindeer.

The film's musical score was written by Jerry Herman, the composer of such hit Broadway musicals as Hello, Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles. Directed by Terry Hughes, the costume designer was Bob Mackie with choreography by Rob Marshall. The executive producer, David Shaw, is the stepson of Angela Lansbury. Screenwriter Mark Saltzman based some of the script on family stories of the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

The film's original broadcast brought in a 14.7/22 rating share, easily winning its timeslot, and tying with a special Thursday repeat of Men Behaving Badly on NBC, for #3 out of 110 programs airing that week.[4][5]

The original television cast recording of Mrs. Santa Claus was recorded from August 8 to 22, 1996 at O'Henry Sound Studios in Burbank, California. It was released on CD and cassette tape by RCA Victor on November 26, 1996.

Track listing

1. "Overture" – Jerry Herman
2. "Seven Days 'Til Christmas" – Michael Jeter/Kristi Lynes/Jamie Torcellini/Angela Lansbury
3. "Mrs. Santa Claus" – Angela Lansbury
4. "Avenue A" – David Norona/Grace Keagy/Linda Kerns/Ensemble
5. "Avenue A (Reprise)" – Angela Lansbury
6. "A Tavish Toy" – Terrence Mann
7. "Almost Young" – Angela Lansbury
8. "Almost Young (Reprise)" – The Kids/Angela Lansbury
9. "Suffragette March" – Linda Kerns/Grace Keagy/Debra Wiseman/Angela Lansbury/The Women
10. "We Don't Go Together at All" – Debra Wiseman/David Norona
11. "Whistle" – Angela Lansbury/Lynsey Bartilson
12. "Dear Mrs. Santa Claus" – Charles Durning
13. "Whistle (Reprise)" – Angela Lansbury/Lynsey Bartilson
14. "He Needs Me" – Angela Lansbury
15. "The Best Christmas of All" – Charles Durning/Angela Lansbury

Mrs. Santa Claus was released on VHS and Laserdisc on October 21, 1997 and again on VHS September 18, 2001. It was first released on DVD on September 23, 2003 and was long been out of print until a 2018 re-release by Sonar Entertainment.

• New York Times review, December 6, 1996
• Mrs. Santa Claus on IMDb
• Mrs. Santa Claus at AllMovie