Submitted photo The Old Brick Playhouse will present the Clause Caper on Dec. 11 and 12.

ELKINS — For the past decade, The Old Brick Playhouse team has worked closely with Santa Claus to present holiday train excursions in downtown Elkins. From snowballs to giant mugs of hot chocolate, the Old Brick Playhouse celebrates Christmas big, and this year is no exception.

On Dec. 11 and 12 from 5 p.m.-8 p.m., The Old Brick Playhouse will present the Clause Caper for local families to share some madcap Christmas joy.

“It’s very difficult to contain our jubilation for Christmas,” McCollam said. “We created the Claus Caper to give local families the opportunity to experience the magic of Christmas in a format that preserves COVID-19 safety protocol.

“Creating excitement among children is our specialty,” McCollam said. “I’m so excited that I can barely sleep.”

This promenade-style format accommodates approximately 10 guests at a time as they accompany one of Mrs. Claus’s Elvin guides to solve a pressing holiday riddle. From puppets to dancing, to a myriad of holiday surprises, this action-packed journey will explore some of the joys of the season like faith and family.

This walking activity will also feature puppets by Old Brick Playhouse and D&E alumnus, Jacob Currence, who has spent the past few years perfecting his craft and completing an MFA in Costuming from West Virginia University. Several other familiar faces will also join in the fun including the jolly ol’ elf himself if conditions are favorable.

“We created this experience in order to let our audiences know that the bliss of Christmas is still alive and kicking here at The Brick. It’s a perfect way to stay socially distanced from Santa and his team, yet still share in the holiday merriment,” Old Brick Playhouse Assistant Director Phil Smith said.

“We feel thankful that The Old Brick is still open, thousands of theatres in America were not so fortunate. As a result, it is important for us to continue to show our community the transforming power of live performance.”

The cost of this experience is $15 per person and the experience will last around 20 minutes and will offer the opportunity to take a photo near Santa. Masks are required for this activity. Reservations are mandatory and can be made by accessing the following link: theclauscaper.eventbrite.com.