Family portrait

Family portrait

• Photograph: Imogen Brown62.fw.radiocitysantafamily.15.jpg732751
• Photograph: Imogen Brown62.fw.radiocitysantafamily.14.jpg732772
• Photograph: Zenith Richards62.fw.toysrus.19.jpg732793
• Photograph: Cinzia Reale-Castello62.fw.pinkberry.2.jpg732814
• Photograph: Zenith Richards62.fw.timessquare.10.jpg732835

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Photograph: Imogen Brown

Christmas comes much more than once a year for actor Charles Edward Hall, and that's just the way he likes it. This season marks his 23rd year playing Santa Claus in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. When not in costume, Charles eschews the North Pole for digs in Hell's Kitchen. He chose the neighborhood because of its proximity to Radio City Music Hall. It's also convenient for his two children, Blake, 19 (who is away at college), and Katie, 11. They split their time between Hall's pad and their mother's apartment, which is in the same area. On winter weekends, the siblings often stop by the Music Hall to visit Santa—er, Dad.

How did you land the role of Santa?
I was auditioning for Ebenezer Scrooge, and they asked me to do an improvisation as Santa Claus. I wasn't really sure what to do, but I suddenly connected to the spirit of my uncle Walter, who used to pretend to be Santa when I was a child. He didn't have a Santa suit, just a beard and a hat. He'd go outside and tap on the window so we'd only see his face. We always thought it was Santa peeking in at us.

When your kids were younger, how did you explain your job to them?
I originally played both Scrooge and Santa, which allowed me to change into the Santa costume when they weren't around. Then, as Blake got older and the role continued to grow, I told him Santa had asked me to take over the part for him. When Katie found out that I wasn't actually Santa she was upset with me for lying to her. I had to explain to her that the true meaning of Christmas is believing in its spirit.

Do friends ever ask you to play Santa for their kids?
I have people call me to ask if I'll talk to their children because they're having trouble at school or disobeying their parents. Or sometimes I'll have them bring their children backstage to talk to Santa.

How many times have your kids seen the show?
I've lost count! When Blake was in high school, he loved to bring friends up to the dressing room. One of their favorite things was to come and hang out with the other performers.

December is Santa's busy season. What do you do the rest of the year?
I actually have the good fortune of being Santa year- round. Radio City has me do a lot of promoting. It takes up about six months of the year. I'm also the artistic director at a not-for-profit theater in my hometown, in Kentucky. I go down and direct college and university students.

Any advice for dads who are planning on dressing up as Santa this Christmas?
Just let it come from your heart. And ho-ho-ho!

Our favorite...

SPECIAL OCCASION DESTINATION
"Blake loves the surf and turf and Katie enjoys the crab cakes at Uncle Jack's Steakhouse (440 Ninth Ave between 34th and 35th Sts; 212-244-0005, unclejacks.com). The holidays there are especially festive with the lights and trees."

TOY STORE
"It's great to see the new toy demonstrations and take a ride on the Ferris wheel at Toys “R” Us (1514 Broadway at 44th St; 646-366-8800, toysrus.com). We don't go so much for the toys as for the atmosphere."

DESSERT
"Without a doubt: Pinkberry (596 Ninth Ave between 42nd and 43rd Sts; 212-957-8440, pinkberry.com). We were the first ones there when they opened!"

PARK
"McCaffrey Playground (W 43rd St between Eighth and Ninth Aves) has awesome swings, and is a nice place to sit and talk or meet friends."

ANNUAL EVENT
"The Ninth Avenue International Food Festival (held annually in May, on Ninth Ave from 37th St to 57th St, ninthavenuefoodfestival.com) is the best. We always get smoothies, and Katie shops for hats and scarves."

DINNER PLACE
"The staff at Olieng Thai (644 Tenth Ave between 45th and 46th Sts; 212-307-9388, olieng.com) are like members of our family. They asked Katie to write something on the restaurant's mirror—she wrote PEACE, LOVE AND THAI FOOD. Plus, the food is fresh and wonderful."

CHRISTMAS TRADITION
"The kids see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular several times from just about everywhere in the house. We open presents and have our big dinner on Christmas Eve, since I have to be in the show on Christmas Day."

NEIGHBORHOOD HANGOUT
"We like to walk around Times Square and people-watch. We just about always run into someone we know."

WINTER ACTIVITY
"We really enjoy going to the school holiday concerts at P.S. 51 (520 W 45th St between Tenth and Eleventh Aves, 212-757-3067) and Robert F. Wagner Middle School (220 E 76th St between Second and Third Aves, 212-535-8610)."