SANTAOLOGY THE SERIES
PART four
Course schedule and class guidelines
Week One
Leon McBryde’s Stories: The Greatest Gift and Magic Snowflake
Week One opens with two unforgettable stories from the heart of the North Pole. First, experience Leon McBryde’s touching story, “The Greatest Gift,” a beautiful reminder that the most important gifts are not found under a tree. Then step into wonder with “The Magical Snowflake,” a captivating storytelling routine filled with mystery, belief, and a magical surprise children will remember long after Christmas has passed. These two powerful routines are designed to create emotion, wonder, and lasting memories while teaching Santas how to carry deep storytelling in a simple, practical performance system. Included in this special evening is rare video footage of Leon McBryde performing “The Greatest Gift,” along with detailed instructions for creating your own Greatest Gift prop. We will also share trusted sources for obtaining both “The Greatest Gift” and “The Magical Snowflake” props so you can carry these stories and their magic into your own visits and performances.
Week TwO
Taking Santa Off and The Unbalanced Routine
Santa may wear the red suit during Christmas, but no one can carry the weight of being Santa every day of the year. This heartfelt evening explores the importance of “taking Santa off” and finding balance in our own lives while also addressing the growing pressures facing today’s children and families.
Featured this week is Puck’s powerful “UnBalanced” routine, a remarkable visual demonstration of what happens when life becomes overloaded with too many responsibilities, activities, and expectations. Through storytelling, discussion, and performance ideas, this class will explore how Santa can gently encourage families to protect wonder, rest, and emotional balance in a world that often feels far too heavy for children and adults alike.
Week Three
Demonstrating Each Fairy Dust Color—Red, Yellow, Green, Blue
Fairy Dust has become one of the most talked-about storytelling concepts in Santaology, and now you will learn how to bring each magical color to life before the eyes of children and families. In this special evening, Steve and Deb will demonstrate all four Fairy Dust colors: Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue, while exploring the meaning, purpose, and emotional impact behind each one.
Students will also discover how Fairy Dust can become a multi-year storytelling system rather than a single Christmas moment. Some Santas introduce one color each season, allowing children to experience new North Pole magic year after year. Most introduce all four colors of the first season, and now, by adding a demo into the story, one color a year, you will create up to five Christmas seasons of connected stories, wonder, and belief. This class is filled with practical demonstrations, storytelling structure, performance ideas, and ways to transform Fairy Dust into an unforgettable long-term tradition for the families you serve.
Week Four
The Lost Star Story & The Christmas Xylophone Routine
Week Four brings together two unforgettable North Pole performance pieces filled with wonder, laughter, music, and heart. First, experience “The Lost Star,” a touching Christmas story about a family tradition, a missing crystal star, and the mysterious Christmas magic that restores hope just when it seems lost. Students will learn how this beautiful routine combines storytelling, visual magic, and a take-home “gift magic” moment that children will remember long after Christmas morning.
The evening also includes the hilarious and interactive “Christmas Xylophone Routine,” inspired by Keith Fields and reimagined through the world of Santaology. Featuring the elves from the North Pole Bicycle Department, oversized elf hats for the children musicians, musical chimes hit with elf-sized wooden hammers, a candy-cane conducting wand, and joyful Christmas chaos, this routine teaches audience interaction, comedic timing, participant management, and how to create playful wonder without overwhelming young children. This week is a perfect blend of heartfelt Christmas storytelling and laugh-out-loud North Pole fun.
Week Five
The Northern Lights Story & The Magic Tea Pot Story
What powers the North Pole? In this visually stunning week of Santaology, we explore the mystery of the Northern Lights and their connection to the magic of Christmas itself. First, discover the story behind the North Pole Generator, a glowing centerpiece that becomes a powerful storytelling tool as children learn how the elves harness the energy of the Northern Lights to power the North Pole. You will learn how to build this prop yourself or order one from someone who has perfected the design. The prop can stand alone visually, or you can go as deep and detailed as you choose.
Then experience the wonder of the Magic Tea Pot Story. During a quiet evening tea break beneath the dancing Northern Lights, the elves discover something impossible: every cup of tea reflects a different color from the sky above. But the true mystery begins when the lid is lifted from the teapot and the Northern Lights themselves appear to have become trapped inside. This week combines mythology, visual storytelling, audience interaction, and magical effects into an unforgettable North Pole experience designed to create lasting wonder for children and adults alike. This was one of Leon’s favorite magic illusions because it didn’t require any practice. With one exception… just remember to open the pour spout before filling the cups of tea. The vent hole is not an adequate pour opening. Ask me how I know. 😊
You will receive the link for a PDF chapter, plus prop suggestions, along with a recording of the class and Steve performing this story just for you.
Facts About The Classes:
• Santaology – Part Three - is Five Weeks long! New Information and Routines not available in Book One
• Timeline For Each Week's Class:
At: 6 to 7 pm. The Zoom meeting is open for 1 hour of social time with class participants
From 7 to 8:30 pm, Steve teaches the class content for one hour and 30 minutes
Then from 8:30 to 9:30 pm, Your Questions and time to review anything from previous weeks.
THE TOTAL TIME of each weekly session is 3.5 Hours
• Class Size Limited to 25 tickets. Each ticket is for one or two people (Santa and his assistant, Mrs. Claus, an Elf, or a helper). With the smaller class size, we have found that you will get to know the other students during the five weeks.
• Money Back Guarantee: If you are unhappy with the classes, you may request a refund of all the money paid.
• Videos are from actual Christmas seasons of Steve performing for the children.
• You will receive each week’s video and all links, regardless of whether you miss a class.
Class Guidelines:
Limited class size
We will limit the class size for each group to 25 registrations. Our goal is to limit the class size, allowing for a more personal experience for everyone.
Same time, Same day, Same members
We will offer classes weekly for five consecutive weeks.
The same 25 registrants will be assigned to your class for the five-week series. Because of the small class size, we will all have new contacts/friends/resources within the Santa Community by the end of the five weeks.
A group email will be utilized. Those not wanting to be included in the group email must communicate that desire to sgillham3@gmail.com or debragillham@gmail.com before the first class.
A group directory will be issued to all participants. We request that each class member email their full address, phone number, and a headshot photo - preferably not in character - to Debra prior to the first class.
ZOOM Time – Before, During, and After
We plan to open each Zoom meeting 1 hour before class time. This first hour will allow participants to socialize with other classmates or ask questions. We call it Social Time, Happy Hour, Free-for-All, etc. We want everyone to feel free to join early if they wish to participate, but the first hour is optional. You can join us to chat early or wait to join the meeting at the scheduled class time. Communication between students and the teacher during the social hour will be through an open, unmuted discussion.
Classes consist of 1 ½ hours of instruction via Zoom. Class members are muted during the instruction time and can raise questions via chat. Questions can be addressed during the Q&A time period.
We are punctual, and classes will begin and conclude at the scheduled time. Those joining the meeting late or leaving it early can review the videos to catch any missed information.
Following the class’s conclusion, a Q&A session lasting up to 1 hour will be held to address questions about current or previous class information.