White Christmas (musical) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White Christmas |
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| Music | Irving Berlin |
| Lyrics | Irving Berlin |
| Book | David Ives and Paul Blake |
| Basis | Musical film White Christmas by the same composer |
| Productions | 2000 The Muny 2004 US National Tour 2007 UK Tour 2008 Broadway 2009 US National Tour 2009 Broadway 2014 West End revival 2016–2018 US National Tour 2019 West End revival |
White Christmas is a fun musical based on the famous 1954 movie with the same name. It tells a heartwarming story with music and lyrics by the legendary Irving Berlin. The story for the stage show was written by David Ives and Paul Blake.
The musical first opened in St. Louis in 2000. It featured talented actors like Lara Teeter, Karen Mason, Lauren Kennedy, and Lee Roy Reams. Later, a production in San Francisco in 2004 starred Brian D'Arcy James, Anastasia Barzee, Meredith Patterson, and Jeffry Denman.
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What is the White Christmas Musical About?
The musical follows two army friends, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who become a successful song-and-dance team after World War II. They meet a sister act, Betty and Judy Haynes, and follow them to a Vermont inn for Christmas.
The inn is owned by their old army general, Henry Waverly, who is having trouble keeping his business afloat. Bob and Phil decide to put on a big show to help the General save his inn. Along the way, there's singing, dancing, and a little bit of romance!
Where Has White Christmas Been Performed?
The White Christmas musical has been performed in many places around the world. It often tours during the Christmas season, bringing holiday cheer to audiences.
Early Performances in the U.S.
The musical, sometimes called Irving Berlin's White Christmas, first appeared in St. Louis in 2000. It then moved to San Francisco in 2004. Since then, it has been performed in many U.S. and Canadian cities. These include Boston, Buffalo, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Vancouver.
UK Tours: Bringing Christmas to Britain
The musical has toured the United Kingdom several times during the Christmas holidays. From 2006 to 2011, different casts brought the show to cities like Plymouth, Southampton, Edinburgh, and Cardiff.
Famous actors who have been part of the UK tours include Aled Jones, Suzanne Shaw, and Adam Cooper. The dances for these tours were created by Randy Skinner.
Broadway Debuts: New York City Shows
White Christmas had special limited performances on Broadway in New York City. It first played at the Marquis Theatre from November 2008 to January 2009. This production was directed by Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Randy Skinner.
The show returned to the Marquis Theatre for another limited run from November 2009 to January 2010. This time, the cast included James Clow as Bob and Melissa Errico as Betty.
Australian Performances
In 2009, a new production of the musical was staged in Elwood, Victoria, Australia. It ran in November and again in December, bringing the festive story to Australian audiences.
West End Revivals: London's Stage
The musical also played in London's famous West End. It had a limited run at the Dominion Theatre in 2014, starring Aled Jones and Tom Chambers.
After a tryout in Leicester, the show returned to the Dominion Theatre in London in late 2019. This production featured new choreography by Stephen Mear and starred Danny Mac as Bob and Danielle Hope as Betty.
U.S. Tours: Traveling Across America
From 2007 to 2019, the musical had many brief tours across the United States. These tours usually happened in November and December, often ending in early January.
These tours visited many cities, including a month-long run at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The choreography for many of these tours was also by Randy Skinner.
What Songs Are in the Musical?
The musical features many classic songs by Irving Berlin. Here are some of the popular tunes you'll hear:
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Who Are the Main Characters?
The main characters in White Christmas are:
- Bob Wallace: A talented singer and performer. The role was first played by Lara Teeter and later by Stephen Bogardus on Broadway.
- Phil Davis: Bob's energetic and charming performing partner. Lee Roy Reams first played Phil, and Jeffry Denman played him on Broadway.
- Betty Haynes: One of the Haynes sisters, a strong and independent singer. Karen Mason was the first to play Betty, and Kerry O'Malley played her on Broadway.
- Judy Haynes: Betty's younger sister, a graceful dancer. Lauren Kennedy originated the role, and Meredith Patterson played her on Broadway.
- General Henry Waverly: Bob and Phil's former army general, who now owns a struggling inn. Howard Keel first played the General, and Charles Dean played him on Broadway.
- Martha Watson: The General's lively and funny assistant at the inn. Susan Mansur played Martha on Broadway.
- Susan Waverly: The General's granddaughter. Melody Hollis played Susan on Broadway.
