Thursday, December 1, 2016

WHITE CHRISTMAS by Carol Kaufman Segal

            What could be more entertaining at this time of year than Irving Berlin’s joyful musical White Christmas?  This lively production is based on the motion picture that starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera Ellen, released by Paramount Pictures on October 14, 1958.
            I loved the movie back then, but seeing it live on the stage of the beautiful Pantages Theatre, is much more entertaining and exciting, especially when the production is so extravagant and beautifully performed by a marvelous talented cast.
            Bob Wallace (Sean Montgomery) and Phil Davis (Jeremy Benton) a couple of song and dance men fall in love with Betty Haynes (Kerry Conte) and her sister Judy Haynes (Kelly Sheehan) respectively.  So naturally there is a love story. 
They end up together at an Inn in Vermont where the two sisters have been hired to perform.   Coincidentally, Bob and Phil discover their former army General, Henry Waverly (Conrad John Shuck) is the owner of the Columbia Inn, and through his right-hand employee, Martha Waverly (Lorna Luft), discover he is deeply in debt and about to lose the place.  What to do but put on a show to save the in for their beloved General!
What makes the show the hit that it is are the marvelous performers, their singing, their dancing, their charm, the choreography (Randy Skinner), gorgeous costumes (Carrie Robbins), outstanding scenic designs (Anna Louizos) and scenic adaptations (Kenneth Foy), the orchestra under the direction of Michael Horsley with orchestrations by Larry Blank, and vocal and dance arrangements by Bruce Pomahac.  The production is under the direction of Randy Skinner.   
Of course. it is Irving Berlin’s wonderful music that keeps everything flowing  A few of his great songs in the show are Happy Holiday, Blue Skies, Let Yourself Go, and of course, the ever seasonal popular White Christmas.

Tickets are available at www.HollywoodPantages.com, or www.Ticktmaster.com, or by phone at (800) 982-2787.  Order soon for this very limited engagement.  

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