Cast and production team have been announced for Citadel Theatre’s holiday season production of the heartfelt comedy-drama MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET by Tom Dudzick, author of the popular OVER THE TAVERN TRILOGY. Like the “Tavern” trilogy, MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET is set in Buffalo, New York, but it follows a different cast of characters. The Nowaks have always believed in their family's miraculous Christmas Eve story that the Blessed Mother appeared in their grandfather’s barber shop—until granddaughter Ruth decides to turn it into a one-woman show, only to have a deathbed confession threaten to unravel the legend. As the truth emerges, the Nowaks must face their faith, family and hilarious truths in this heartfelt comedy. MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET has enjoyed some 150 productions across the US since its 2009 premiere, including an off-Broadway engagement in 2012. THE NEW YORK TIMES called it “a sprightly, gentle comedy, where revelations that might remake a family's sense of itself are each rolled out in service of laughter.” THEATREMANIA’S Peter Filichia said it was "Utterly delightful while delivering a solid message on faith, the lack of it, why we believe what we believe, and how we can, or must, adjust to life's surprises." Scott Shallenbarger, who directed Citadel’s hits I AND YOU and BABY, is directing. MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET will open on Friday, November 14 after previews on November 12 and 13, and play through December 14.
Shallenbarger’s cast will include Naomi Hershman as Clara, whose deceased father claimed to experience the vision. Clara’s adult children will be played by Mindy Shore, as Ruth - the young woman whose theatrical ambitions set the story in motion; Lorelei Sturm as eldest child Beverly; and Robert Wood Frank as Jimmy - the son who shocks his devout Roman Catholic mother by announcing his plans to marry a Jewish woman. Understudies are Sheri Warren as Clara, Jamie Hendler as Ruth, Jennifer Rufner as Beverly, and Philip Macaluso as Jimmy.
Top Row: Naomi Hershman, Lorelei Sturm,
Bottom Row: Mindy Shore, Robert Wood Frank.
The production team, in addition to Shallenbarger as director, includes Bob Knuth (Set Designer), Danielle Reinhardt (Costume Designer), Joel Zishuk (Lighting Designer), Maya Reter (Sound Designer), Ellen Markus (Properties Designer), Mitchell Pollitt (Master Carpenter), Alex Trinh (Run Crew), and Matthew Kier (Stage Manager). Scott Phelps and Ellen Phelps are Producers.
Citadel Theatre is in residence in the West Campus of the Lake Forest School District at 300 S. Waukegan Road, Lake Forest. Further information, subscriptions and single tickets priced at $45, are available on the company’s website at www.citadeltheatre.org.
LISTING INFORMATION
MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET
By Tom Dudzick
Directed by Scott Shallenbarger
Friday, November 14 – Sunday, December 14, 2025
(Previews November 12-13 @ 7:30 pm)
Press Opening Friday, November 14 at 7:30 pm.
Thursdays*, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sunday matinees at 3 pm. Wednesday matinees at 1 pm on November 26 and December 10
* No shows on Thursdays November 27 (Thanksgiving Day) or December 11.
Preview ticket prices $20 plus $2 ticketing fee. Regular run prices $45.00 plus $3.00 ticketing fee. Discounts available for groups, seniors and students.
Citadel Theatre, located in the West Campus building of the Lake Forest School District, 300 S. Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest, IL.
Tickets available online at www.citadeltheatre.org or by phone at 847-735-8554, ext. 1
MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET” is the story of the Nowak family, living amidst the urban rubble of Buffalo, NY’s East Side. Maybe the neighborhood is depressed, but not Clara, the family matriarch. She happily runs her soup kitchen and tends to the family heirloom – a twenty-foot shrine to the Blessed Mother which adjoins the house. This neighborhood beacon of faith commemorates the day in 1942 when the Blessed Virgin Mary materialized in her father’s barber shop! When the play opens, a family meeting is in progress. Daughter Ruth divulges her plan to finally “go public” with the family miracle by creating a one-woman play about the sacred event. But during the course of the meeting, the entire family’s faith is shaken to the very core when a deathbed confession causes the family legend to unravel. The results are heartfelt and hilarious.
BIOS
Scott Shallenbarger (Director). Scott returns to Citadel Theatre after directing I AND YOU in the 2024-25 season and BABY in the 2023-24 season. Previous productions include THE GLASS MENAGERIE (Jeff Award), SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION, THE ROAD TO MECCA (Raven Theatre), SKYSCRAPER, BURN THIS, OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD (Piven Theatre), JEFFREY, and LOVE, VALOUR, COMPASSION (Hubris Productions). Scott enjoyed a long tenure as Director of Theatre Arts at Highland Park High School in Highland Park, Illinois and thanks his husband and sons for their love and never-ending support.
Tom Dudzik (Playwright) is an American playwright known for his warm, comedic portrayals of family life and Catholic upbringing in Buffalo, New York. He launched his career with GREETINGS!—a holiday-themed play that premiered off-Broadway and became a seasonal favorite across the U.S.. His most celebrated work is the OVER THE TAVERN TRILOGY, a semi-autobiographical series chronicling the Pazinski family’s trials and triumphs. These plays—OVER THE TAVERN, KING O’ THE MOON, and THE LAST MASS AT ST. CASIMIR’S—have broken box office records and earned critical acclaim for their heartfelt humor and nostalgic charm. Dudzick’s other notable works include HAIL MARY!, a provocative look at faith and education; and DON’T TALK TO THE ACTORS, a backstage farce about the chaos of theatrical production.
Scott Phelps (Artistic Director) is in his 24th year as the Artistic Director at Citadel. He’s acted in and directed dozens of Citadel productions over the last decade and a half since founding this North Shore theatre in 2002 with his friend and lifelong companion, Ellen. In 2023, he starred in the leading role of Pastor Paul in THE CHRISTIANS. He has acted/directed in NYC, and in his home state of California; trained as an actor at the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts in Santa Maria, CA; received his BFA from the University of Utah and did an apprenticeship at the Actors Theatre of Louisville. For 18 years Scott worked for a promotional company and raised his three daughters and his son in Lake Forest. Recently he has been taking on the next chapter of his life — the role of “Beepa” to his grandchildren. Although he is unsure if he is old enough to play that part, he’s been enjoying the challenge.
Citadel Theatre is one of Chicagoland’s premier live theatres, producing hundreds of performances annually and inspiring audiences for nearly 24 years. Founded by Scott and Ellen Phelps in 2002, Citadel Theatre is comprised of its Main Stage performances and its theatre acting classes for children. A proud member of the League of Chicago Theatres and the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff ArtsLink, Citadel Theatre offers a unique intimate theatre experience that transports you to another setting and leaves you feeling exhilarated and wanting more. A recognized 501(c)3 non-profit organization, Citadel can accept tax-deductible donations. For more information, ticketing, and to donate, please visit Citadel online at www.CitadelTheatre.org or call 847.735.8554.