The Theatre School @ North Coast Rep presents the holiday play, The Gift of the Magi. Exciting and heartwarming, this new theatrical adaptation by director Phillip Korth brings to life Della and Jim’s fateful Christmas together in New York City at the turn of the 20th century.

With only $1.87 to spare, Della cannot imagine a holiday without being able to afford a present for her darling Jim. She scrimps and saves every penny she can for months with this meager result and finally resolves to sacrifice her most prized possession in order to purchase the perfect gift. Meanwhile, Jim is facing the same predicament, and in a perfectly heartbreaking twist of fate they both lose the things dearest to them but in doing so discover what it truly means to give and receive gifts. Full of colorful characters, humor, joy, tears, and holiday spirit, this new adaptation illuminates O. Henry’s classic short story for a whole new generation.

The production’s playwright and director, Phillip Korth, is thrilled by the opportunity to bring one of his favorite short stories to life with such a dedicated and talented group of student actors. “The cast is doing a tremendous amount of very detailed and dynamic work throughout the play,” he says, “and I can’t wait to share their incredible performances with an audience.” The play runs 30 minutes and will be entertaining and meaningful for audiences of all ages.

In addition to being The Theatre School @ North Coast Rep’s Education Associate, Korth is an award-winning playwright and a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, who says he “loves nothing more than hearing and telling stories”. “I really look at this production as an intersection of literature and theatre, and the original story by O. Henry is one of the best of its kind in American fiction,” he says. “The fact that we have the opportunity to bring his words and characters to life onstage is very exciting.”

The Theatre School @ North Coast Rep proudly delivers high-quality theatre instruction and six student theatre productions throughout the year, offering accessible and fun

training for various age groups. Check out all the upcoming options on the Theatre School website: www.northcoastreptheatreschool.org.

Featured in the cast are (Tommy Caringella, Carmel Valley; Tommy Chambers, San Diego; Iridae Cordeau, North Park; Maggie Currier, Cardiff; Lorelei Krone, Vista; Loretta Pfaff-Carano, Clairemont; Nadiia Sas, Carmel Valley; and Lucy Zavattero, Carlsbad). Students featured on the production staff are (Neta Sanchez, Del Mar; Nadiia Sas, Carmel Valley; and Isabel White, Encinitas).

Performances are November 18th-21st with show times at 5:30pm Thursday, Friday, & Saturday and 2:00pm Saturday and Sunday. Ticket prices are regularly $20.00 for adults and $16.00 for seniors 65 and older, children under age 17, and active military.