What it's like

By Ashley Thompson

Thursday, November 29, 2007

For the past seven years, Joe Carey, Lenexa senior, has played Santa Claus at least once during the holiday season. What started as a gig in his high school’s student council has carried over into his job during college at Wacky Banana, a kids’ party center in Lenexa.

As a film studies major, and someone who shows up in many a KU theater production, Carey says he relishes the challenge to stay in character, even when the kids often unintentionally push him to his limit. “It’s kind of hard when they say such silly things. If I do have to laugh at something they say, I just make sure I do it in my Santa laugh.”

This sort of performance is markedly different than other acting he has done, Carey says, because he is playing someone that all the kids already feel a connection with. “It’s weird because you’re donning a persona that every kid thinks they know, but you’ve never seen these kids in your life. There’s really a look of familiarity.”

While he doesn’t have a gig lined up yet for this holiday season, Carey says he’d gladly step into the red suit and beard when called upon. “There’s something about the innocence factor with the little kids that’s really cool.”

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