Dreams of a white Christmas come true this holiday as Theatre Bristol presents “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” on stage at The Paramount Center for the Arts, Bristol, Tennessee. There are six performances over Nov. 21-23 and Dec. 5-7. Tickets are on sale at ParamountBristol.org/White-Christmas.
Based on the beloved, timeless film, this heartwarming musical adaptation features 17 Irving Berlin songs and a book by David Ives and Paul Blake performed by a cast from around the region.
The show opens with veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis’s successful song-and-dance act (“Happy Holidays”) after World War II. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters (“Sisters”) en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge (“Snow”), which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil’s former army commander (“The Old Man” / “What Can You Do with a General”).
With a dazzling score featuring well-known standards including, “Count Your Blessings,” “Best Things Happen When You’re Dancing,” “Blue Skies,” “I Love A Piano,” “How Deep Is the Ocean” and many others, as well as the perennial title song, “White Christmas,” this musical is an uplifting, wholesome song and dance extravaganza that will delight and amuse audiences of all ages.
Mike Locke plays Bob Wallace, with business partner Phil Davis played by Tyler Bishop. Sisters Betty and Judy Haynes are played by Makenna Bishop and Camille Gray. General Henry Waverly is played by Dan Gray, and Colleen Semones plays resident busybody Martha Watson. Reese Davis and Abigail Smith share the role of Waverly’s visiting granddaughter, Susan. Annie Barranco and Morgan Gilstrap play the dynamic duo, Rita and Rhoda, and Deklan Thomas plays Ralph Sheldrake, army buddy to Bob and Phil turned producer. Koty Peak keeps the show running as stage manager Mike Nulty. Daniel Tester accompanies on piano as Scooter, dance captain Jacci Wallace keeps the dancers on their toes, and Amber Hall makes sure everything is organized as Bob and Phil’s assistant, Tessie.
“Snow”-singing train passengers are Christopher McVey and Susan McNabb as the snoring couple, alongside Jim Altman, Michael Trotter-Lawson, Libby Street and Jacci Wallace, with Ashtyn Lockhart conducting. Christina Dalton, Lilly Hankins, Carly Street, Amber Hall, Jim Altman, Michael Trotter-Lawson, Scott Hill, Deklan Thomas and Nicole Intagliata are Bob and Phil’s dance troupe. Libby Street and Harper Slaughter work costuming magic as the seamstress and assistant seamstress. Greg Owens is Jimmy of Jimmy’s Back Room, and Tabetha Davis is the cigarette girl. On the Ed Sullivan Show, Michael Trotter-Lawson is the Announcer, and Tabetha Davis is Sheldrake’s secretary. Christopher McVey “ay-yup”s his way along as farmhand Ezekiel Foster.
Veteran director and actor Chris McVey, with most recent directing credits of “Scrooge! The Musical,” “Mark Twain’s The Diaries of Adam and Eve” and “A Tuna Christmas,” directs this classic Christmas favorite. He is supported by stage managers Ann Vance and Nicole Intagliata, music director Susan McNabb, choreographer Camille Gray, technical director Albert Tester, master carpenters Luke Gray and Ken Cornett, co-costume designers Camille Gray and Adriel Slaughter, props artisan Rebecca Ryan and producer Samantha Gray, along with many assistants, builders, artists and operators.
Theatre Bristol opens “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” Nov. 21, and runs performances for the two weekends prior to and following Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 21-23 and Dec. 5-7, at the Paramount. Performances are Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 5:30 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $16 (with fees $21.50), and for students and seniors $12 (with fees $17.50). Reservations may be made at ParamountBristol.org/White-Christmas.
Founded in 1965 by Cathy DeCaterina, Theatre Bristol is a nonprofit community theater in downtown Bristol serving all ages that also has the distinction as the oldest continually running children’s theater in Northeast Tennessee, with an equally long history serving Southwest Virginia. Its seasons consist of drama, comedy and musical productions that take place at Paramount Bristol, in their blackbox ARTspace Theatre, and at the Cameo Theatre, and educational opportunities provided by their School of Theatre Arts. Theatre Bristol is a volunteer-operated community organization and invites the public to get involved.
For more information, visit the Theatre Bristol’s website or Facebook page, contact Theatre Bristol at 423-212-3625, or email info@theatrebristol.org.
