Seattle is Guaranteed a White Christmas
This Holiday Season
"Somebody once said you couldn’t have a holiday without Irving Berlin’s permission."
—Sammy Cahn, Songwriter
Performances: November 25 – December 20, 2006
Opening/Press Night: November 30, 2006 8:00 p.m.
Spotlight Night: November 6, 2006 7:00 p.m.
SEATTLE - ‘Tis almost the season and all the more reason to be jolly – a new stage adaptation of the beloved classic film White Christmas is being produced by The 5th Avenue Theatre this holiday season. This new holiday tradition runs November 25 through December 20, 2006. Every holiday season, audiences of all ages enjoy the uplifting story of White Christmas. Now, a new generation will be able to experience this holiday tradition in a completely new way – live on stage! The 5th Avenue is one of only four theaters in America to produce this classic Christmas movie musical newly adapted for the stage. WHITE CHRISTMAS played to packed houses, delighting audiences in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston. This is a co-production, and immediately after the Seattle run, the show will travel to Sacramento in January 2007 and to Denver in December 2007.
The fun begins after WWII when two of the hottest song-and-dance men in showbiz team up with a sister act to save their former general’s country inn. The result is a sparkling holiday package filled with splashy dance numbers, falling snow, treasured tunes and loads of heartwarming nostalgia. It includes the beloved Irving Berlin songs “Sisters,” “Blue Skies,” “I Love A Piano, ” “The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing” and the popular title song, “White Christmas.”
WHITE CHRISTMAS is based on the 1954 movie musical starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen, Dean Jagger, Grady Sutton, Sig Rumann, Barrie Chase and George Chakiris. Paramount Pictures planned for White Christmas to be the third Bing Crosby-Fred Astaire-Irving Berlin musical. Astaire bowed out and Donald O’Connor replaced him, but fell seriously ill; Danny Kaye was brought on as a last minute replacement. None of these early changes affected the box office. Released in August, the movie grossed $12 million in theater rentals and held the number one position as the top money-making picture of 1954. It is also one of the most popular movie musical rentals of all time.
“Irving Berlin was always proud of the movie White Christmas, and we are thrilled that it has now become a stage musical,” says Ted Chapin, president of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, which administers the Irving Berlin copyrights. “He wrote a song about Christmas that became more than a song – it became the highlight of one film, the title song of another, and a worldwide phenomenon.”
Author Jody Rosen wrote in her 2002 book White Christmas: The Story of an American Song, “…the song’s power transcends its sales figures and commercial ubiquity. With “White Christmas,” Berlin created an anthem that spoke eloquently to its historical moment, offering a comforting Christmastime vision to a nation frightened and bewildered by the Second World War. But it also resonated with some of the deepest strains in American culture: yearning for an idealized New England past, belief in the ecumenical magic of the ‘merry and bright’ Christmas season, pining for the sanctuaries of home and hearth.”
The 5th Avenue Theatre is thrilled to bring together the following talented professionals from across the country for the stage musical. The cast of 26 actors includes: Michael Gruber (B’way A Chorus Line, 5th Ave Singin’ in the Rain) as Bob Wallace; Christina Saffran Ashford (B’way A Chorus Line, Singin’ in the Rain) as Betty Haynes; Tari Kelly (B’way The Boy From Oz) as Judy Haynes; Greg McCormick Allen (5th Ave Wonderful Town, Wizard of Oz) as Phil Davis; Stephen Godwin as Gen. Henry Waverly; and Carol Swarbrick as Martha Watson. Sharing the adorable role of 10-year-old Susan Waverly in alternate performances are two Seattle-area superstars, Olivia Spokoiny and Keaton Whittaker.
Other cast members include: Krystle Armstrong, Scott Brateng, Kristen Dawn Calgaro, Christopher Clay, Ross Cornell, Clayton Corzatte, Anthony Curry, Dannul Dailey, Taryn Darr, Michael Ericson, Brittany Jamieson, Chad Jennings, Bobbi Kotula, Lauralyn McClelland, Jayme McDaniel, Matt Owen, Amanda Paulson, Pamela Turpen, and Billie Wildrick.
WHITE CHRISTMAS is co-directed by Jamie Rocco (The Sound of Music, Singin’ in the Rain) and David Armstrong (Company, Sweeney Todd, HAIR). The sets and costumes are designed by two of Broadway’s most celebrated designers, Anna Louizos (Avenue Q) and Carrie Robbins (Grease, Iceman Cometh), respectively. The choreographer is Jamie Rocco and the conductor/musical director is James May. Tom Sturge is the lighting designer; Andrew Horka is the sound designer and Mary Pyanowski is the hair/make-up designer. Anne Kearson is the production stage manager.
IRVING BERLIN (Music & Lyrics). Born Israel Beilin in a Russian Jewish shtetl in 1888, he died as Irving Berlin in his adopted homeland of New York, New York, USA, in 1989. Songwriter, performer, theatre owner, music publisher and soldier, he defined Jerome Kern’s famous maxim: "Irving Berlin has no place in American music. He is American music." Berlin wrote over 1200 songs, including “White Christmas,” “Easter Parade,” “Always,” “Blue Skies,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” and “God Bless America.” He wrote the scores to more than a dozen Broadway musicals, including Annie Get Your Gun, and provided songs for dozens of Hollywood movie musicals. An unabashed patriot, his love for—and generosity to—his country is legendary, and through several of his ongoing foundations, including The God Bless America Fund, he has donated millions of dollars in royalties to Army Emergency Relief, the Boy and Girl Scouts and other organizations. Among his many awards and accolades were the Academy Award for “White Christmas,” a Congressional Gold Medal, a special Tony Award and, currently, commemoration on a U.S. postage stamp.
MICHAEL GRUBER (Bob Wallace). Broadway: Mike in A Chorus Line, (final co.) Munkustrap in Cats,(both on B’way and in the film) Tin man in The Wizard of Oz (with Roseanne), both Bill and Hortensio in Kiss Me Kate and the original companies of Swing!, Miss Saigon, Laughing Room Only and My Favorite Year. Favorite Regional roles include: Billy Buck Chandler in My One and Only (Reprise! L.A.) Jesus in Godspell, Saul in Rags (Walnut Street) Phil Davis in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Boston 2005),Stanley Donen in the world premier of What a Glorious Feeling (Mason Street Warehouse) Billy in Anything Goes (Stratford Festival, CA) Don Lockwood in Singin’ in the Rain, Young Ben in Follies, Fingers in Red, Hot and Blue (Paper Mill Playhouse) Wizzer in Falsettos (Alliance, Atlanta) Jud in Oklahoma (Arizona Theater Co.) Sky in Guys and Dolls (Maltz Jupiter Theatre) Cousin Kevin in Tommy (’99 Concert tour) Lucky in Dames at Sea (Goodspeed) and Bobby in Crazy for You (PCPA Theaterfest) Recordings include: Follies, 42nd Street, Singin’ in the Rain, Wonderful Town, The Most Happy Fella, Good News, Swing!, My Favorite Year and The Music Man. www.MichaelGruberlibrary.com
CHRISTINA SAFFRAN ASHFORD (Betty Haynes). Broadway: Singin’ in the Rain (Kathy Seldon, original cast album), A Chorus Line (Maggie), Sophisticated Ladies (Shoo Shoo), Drood (Rosa Bud/Edwin Drood), The Music Man (Zaneeta). Regional: Leads in My Fair Lady, Showboat, South Pacific, The Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Sunday in the Park with George, Damn Yankees, The Sound of Music, Pajama Game, She Loves Me, My One and Only, Chess, etc. Concerts: Lead chanteuse for Herbie Hancock, soloist with various symphony orchestras including the Duke Ellington Orchestra, and opening for Don Rickles in Las Vegas. Movie vocals: Aladdin, Mulan, 102 Dalmations, Pocahontas II, Hunchback II, Lady and the Tramp II, Cinderella, Galaxy Quest, Polar Express, Christmas with the Kranks, The Santa Clause II. Her solo CD Temporary Insanity is available at www.LMLMusic.com. www.broadwayduo.com
TARI KELLY (Judy Haynes). Credits include Broadway: the original casts of The Boy From Oz (Trio, u.s./ performed Liza Minelli), the Hal Prince revival of Show Boat (u.s/ performed Ellie and Kim Ravenal). Equity national tours: Little Shop of Horrors (Audrey), Show Boat (Ellie), Beauty and The Beast (Silly Girl, u.s./ performed Babette). Off B’way: Streakin’ (Chrissie), Drift (Laura). Regional favorites: Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie Dillmount - 2006 Jeff nomination), Triumph of Love (Leonide), Chicago (Velma Kelly), Man of La Mancha (Aldonza), Once Upon A Mattress (Winnifred), and Everything’s Ducky (Leda/ Galinda/ et al. - 2002 Jeff nomination). www.TariKelly.com
GREG MCCORMICK ALLEN (Phil Davis) is thrilled to be back at The 5th for lucky show number 13! In the 15 years since his first show here, he has played a variety of roles such as zoot suit-wearing hep-cat, tap-dancing soldier, sound engineer, eunuch, chorus hopeful, scarecrow, purser, pub pianist and Jesus. Recent performances include Cornelius in Hello, Dolly! (Village Theatre), Forever Plaid (TAG) and Seussical! (Seattle Children’s Theatre). Favorite shows include On The Town (Chip), Forever Plaid (Sparky), La Cage Aux Folles (Hannah) and My One And Only (Billy).
Tickets to WHITE CHRISTMAS are priced from $20 to $75. Tickets are available over the phone by calling (206) 625-1900 / toll free (888) 5TH-4TIX, online at www.5thavenue.org or in person at the box office in downtown Seattle. There is no service charge when purchasing tickets in person at The 5th Avenue Theatre Box Office.
Learn more about WHITE CHRISTMAS at SPOTLIGHT NIGHT on Monday, November 6 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. WHITE CHRISTMAS fans can learn more about how this Eastern European Jewish immigrant, Irving Berlin, came to write the classic songs heard in the original film. Also hear how Broadway celebrates the holidays with performances by some of Seattle’s brightest stars. SPOTLIGHT NIGHT is presented for free to the public by The 5th Avenue Theatre and U.S. Bank. Visit www.5thavenue.org/spotlight to learn more.
Those interested in a sneak peek of cast members performing select numbers from WHITE CHRISTMAS will have the opportunity at the Pacific Place Mall atrium on December 7 at 5:30 p.m. This one-day-only event is free and open to the public.
The 5th Avenue Theatre is Seattle’s premier musical theater. In 1980, the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre began producing and presenting top-quality live musical theater for the cultural enrichment of the Northwest community. The 5th Avenue Theatre maintains a subscription audience of 23,000 and an annual attendance of more than 200,000. It ranks among the nation’s largest and most respected musical theater companies. The theater is committed to encouraging the next generation of theatergoers through its Educational Outreach Program which includes: The Adventure Musical Theatre Touring Company, The 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards, the Student Matinee Program and Spotlight Nights. Unique in its Chinese-inspired design, the exquisite theater opened in 1926 as a venue for vaudeville and film. Today, under the leadership of Managing Director Marilynn Sheldon and Producing Artistic Director David Armstrong, The 5th Avenue Theatre continues to achieve the highest standards in all aspects of artistic endeavors and facility operations, while preserving its artistic, architectural and historic legacy.
Please contact Jennifer Rice, Public Relations Manager, at (206) 625-1418 with questions or to schedule individual interviews.