This splashy Nov. 23-Dec. 30 production — available to subscribers of the DCA touring lineup and the DCTC resident season — will feature Broadway-style scenery (by Tony Award nominee Anna Louizos) and costumes (by Tony nominee Carrie Robbins). These design elements were created for earlier major-market engagements produced by Broadway's Kevin McCollum and Jeffrey Seller of The Producing Office, but otherwise this is a Denver creation — directed by DCTC artistic director Kent Thompson and choreographed by Patti Colombo.
Performances play the Buell Theatre, the DCPA venue known for housing national tours.
White Christmas is inspired by the 1954 movie musical of the same name about two Army buddies, entertainers Bob and Phil (played by Andrew Samonsky and Benjie Randall), who meet a sister act, Betty and Judy (Amy Bodnar and Kate Marilley), and attempt to bring Christmas cheer to a former World War II Army general (Mike Hartman). The general runs a country inn, which is co-managed by an old vaudeville veteran, Martha (Dorothy Stanley).
The score features classic Berlin numbers, including "Sisters," "Blue Skies," "I Love a Piano" and the title number, among others. This new stage version (with book by Paul Blake and David Ives) was first produced by The Producing Office (with partners) in 2004 in San Francisco. Walter Bobbie directed and Randy Skinner choreographed.
The property has since been produced by The Producing Office (McCollum and Seller), and staged by Bobbie and Skinner, in major markets, and is now available for licensing to stock, regional and amateur theatres. Boston and Toronto will see the Skinner-Bobbie production this holiday season. Samonsky was last seen in Denver on the national tour of Disney's On the Record in 2005. Randall appeared in Off-Broadway's Dr. Sex and Boobs – The Music of Ruth Wallace. Bodnar appeared on Broadway as Laurie in Oklahoma! and in Ragtime, and was last seen in Denver on the national tour of The Scarlet Pimpernel. Marilley was most recently seen at Paper Mill Playhouse, TUTS, Atlanta Theater of the Stars, and North Shore Music Theatre in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Hartman has been seen on Broadway in The Kentucky Cycle, Sherlock Holmes and The Grapes of Wrath. Stanley's Broadway credits include 42nd Street, Anything Goes, No, No Nanette!, High Society, Show Boat, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Steppin' Out with Liza Minnelli, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Dames at Sea and Annie.
Music direction will be by Paulette Haupt. Lighting design is by Tom Sturge with sound design by Phil Allen.
The opening night will be Nov. 28. Additional casting will be announced.
For more information call (303) 893-4100 or visit www.denvercenter.org.
