Holiday shows mean so much more

Welcome! We’ve arrived at our season’s next destination, and there is with snow in the forecast, prepare for a merry and bright time at White Christmas.

Our holiday productions have become nearly as much of a tradition as the holidays themselves. It’s heartwarming to see entire generations of families arrive each year to experience our December show. The awe on the faces of children walking through the theatre doors for the first time, often with grandparents in tow, is sometimes a performance all its own. We’re also delighted each year to welcome businesses and groups who make attending this show part of their customer or employee appreciation programs.

With so few true shared spaces in our world today, theatre, and community theatre in particular, provides a unique “third space” where people from all walks of life can gather for a shared experience. That’s why the production in this slot isn’t always strictly “holiday-themed,” but is instead chosen for its ability to bring the entire family and community together.

This year, though, we are presenting one of the most beloved holiday shows of all time. Bing Crosby’s version of the title song remains the best-selling single in history. You may know that the song wasn’t originally written for the 1954 film “White Christmas,” but for the 1942 movie “Holiday Inn,” where it won the Academy Award. This song that is synonymous with the holiday season was written on a sunny California day by Irving Berlin, who could not read music, barely play the piano, and was Jewish.

The stage adaptation, developed in 2004, made a number of changes common to screen-to-stage transitions: character adjustments, refined plot points, and the addition of more classic Irving Berlin songs. What remained unchanged is the nostalgia and warm glow the story brings to audiences of all ages.

May your days be merry and bright. And may all your Christmases (or whatever holidays you celebrate this time of year) be white.

Jamie Ulmer
Executive Director