{"id":3798,"date":"2021-11-19T14:39:20","date_gmt":"2021-11-19T12:39:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neatstuttgart.com\/?p=3798"},"modified":"2026-04-12T13:58:22","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T11:58:22","slug":"it-all-began-at-macys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neatstuttgart.com\/?p=3798","title":{"rendered":"IT ALL BEGAN AT MACY&#8217;S&#8230;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Directed by Charles C. Urban<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><em><strong>An Evening of Good Advice for Aspiring Santas &amp; Christmas Elves<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watch it now on the MERLIN YouTube Channel &#8211; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/macys-santa-land-a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elf.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"760\" data-attachment-id=\"3829\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/neatstuttgart.com\/?attachment_id=3829\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/macys-santa-land-a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elf.jpg?fit=600%2C760&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"600,760\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"macys-santa-land-a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elf\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/macys-santa-land-a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elf.jpg?fit=600%2C760&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"3829\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/macys-santa-land-a-day-in-the-life-of-an-elf.jpg?resize=600%2C760&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3829\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/119587931_10217000619478856_3934477806824088930_o-4.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"798\" height=\"529\" data-attachment-id=\"3800\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/neatstuttgart.com\/?attachment_id=3800\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/119587931_10217000619478856_3934477806824088930_o-4.jpg?fit=1781%2C1181&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1781,1181\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;copyright_uka.meissner-deruiz&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"119587931_10217000619478856_3934477806824088930_o-4\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/119587931_10217000619478856_3934477806824088930_o-4.jpg?fit=798%2C529&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"3800\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/119587931_10217000619478856_3934477806824088930_o-4.jpg?resize=798%2C529&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3800\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/duck-variations-mit-derrick-jenkins-5.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"649\" height=\"960\" data-attachment-id=\"3823\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/neatstuttgart.com\/?attachment_id=3823\" 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href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/r3a3071print-5.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"798\" height=\"532\" data-attachment-id=\"3824\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/neatstuttgart.com\/?attachment_id=3824\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/r3a3071print-5.jpg?fit=3543%2C2362&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3543,2362\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark III&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1601924707&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;copyright_uka.meissner-deruiz&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;170&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;3200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"r3a3071print-5\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/r3a3071print-5.jpg?fit=798%2C532&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"3824\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/r3a3071print-5.jpg?resize=798%2C532&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3824\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/its-a-wonderful-life-3-3.jpg777-3.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"798\" height=\"541\" data-attachment-id=\"3804\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/neatstuttgart.com\/?attachment_id=3804\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/its-a-wonderful-life-3-3.jpg777-3.jpg?fit=1983%2C1344&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1983,1344\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" 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href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/it-all-began-at-macys-mit-the-stuttgart-harmonizers-4.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"798\" height=\"518\" data-attachment-id=\"3809\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/neatstuttgart.com\/?attachment_id=3809\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/it-all-began-at-macys-mit-the-stuttgart-harmonizers-4.jpg?fit=2365%2C1535&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2365,1535\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;Canon EOS 5D Mark III&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1543875272&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;copyright_uka.meissner-deruiz&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;75&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;3200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.002&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"it-all-began-at-macys-mit-the-stuttgart-harmonizers-4\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/it-all-began-at-macys-mit-the-stuttgart-harmonizers-4.jpg?fit=798%2C518&amp;ssl=1\" data-id=\"3809\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/neatstuttgart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/it-all-began-at-macys-mit-the-stuttgart-harmonizers-4.jpg?resize=798%2C518&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3809\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Photos by Uka Meissner deRuiz<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Featuring Kirsten Schulze, Florian Eisentraut, Bardia Khajenoori, Derrick Jenkins, Robin Anderson and THE STUTTGART HARMONIZERS; Petra Weidenbach, Georg Irion, Mark Hatlie, Matthias Els\u00e4\u00dfer &#8211; Photos by Uka Meissner deRuiz<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>IT ALL BEGAN AT MACY\u2019S <\/em><\/strong><em>&#8211; An Evening of Good Advice for Aspiring Santas &amp; Christmas Elves<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1862<strong> Macy\u2019s <\/strong>became<strong> the first store <\/strong>in <strong>New York <\/strong>with its own<strong> Santa<\/strong>, on site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Being a mall Santa might seem like a relatively easy job: put a kid on your lap, ask them what they want for Christmas, pose for a quick photo, and send them on their merry way. But anyone who\u2019s done even one season as the department store Santa will tell you the job takes dedication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThere\u2019s no harder job in all of Christmas than being the department store Santa,\u201d<\/em> says Paul Sheehan, who is now in his 36th season as a professional Mr. Claus. <em>\u201cBetween Black Friday and Christmas Eve at 3 pm, I had seen over 17,000 kids.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There\u2019s a reason thousands of rotund, bearded men don the suit every year: while demanding, being Santa is also incredibly rewarding. It\u2019s like being the season\u2019s biggest celebrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well, <em>someone <\/em>has to do it; <em>why not you?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you are considering being a Christmas Elf or perhaps even Santa himself this year, we have some helpful hints and enlightening firsthand accounts that will either motivate you or scare you away from this beloved Seasonal Pastime.&nbsp; Many of those who have extensive on-the-job experience, swear that they will never do it again, yet diligently return to their annual duties, time and again\u2026 after eleven months of necessary recuperation. Perhaps artificial jollity is addictive, perhaps they are merely masochists. This is their story\u2026 <strong><em>Ho! Ho! Ho!<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\">Performance \u2013 Monday, <strong>December 6 <\/strong>at <strong>20:00<\/strong> hrs in <strong>MERLIN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>The performance will be STREAMED LIVE! <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>To view simply go to the MERLIN Youtube Channel &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/0SiSHOrLvzU\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/0SiSHOrLvzU<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In cooperation with <strong>DAZ<\/strong> \u2013 Deutsch Amerikanisches Zentrum, <strong>Kulturverein Merlin<\/strong> e.V.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>MERLIN requires the audience to be 2 G and will only allow persons inside the theatre who supply a certification of vaccination or recuperation.<\/strong> <strong>Masks must be worn inside the theatre.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Directed by Charles C. 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