It may still feel like summer outside, but winter has arrived at
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres! The #TCTheater holiday* season begins early this year with their production of Irving Berlin's
White Christmas, a nostalgic and heartwarming charmer. And demand for it is high - the show is already virtually sold out in the months of November and December (more availability in October and January). Audiences will be rewarded will a ridiculously talented cast, familiar and beloved Berlin tunes (more than we hear in the movie), thrilling dance numbers, and an overall warm glow that'll prepare us for holiday celebrations and (hopefully) a snowy winter to come.
White Christmas is my favorite Christmas movie (along with Love Actually), one that I've seen dozens of times. Each song, each costume, each moment is iconic in my mind. And while I might have a few quibbles, book writers David Ives and Paul Blake have really done a wonderful job of adapting the movie into a stage musical. They've removed a few songs (I miss "Gee, I Wish I Was Back in the Army") and added some additional Irving Berlin songs ("Love and the Weather," "How Deep is the Ocean"). The plot is pretty much the same, with a few tweaks. Gone is Betty and Judy's escape out the window of the club, and Betty's misunderstanding of Bob's motives has changed form (and is, if possible, even weaker - but drama must be created to have that beautiful reunion). A few other things have been tightened up or skipped over, but fans of the movie will not be displeased. When you get right down to it, the plot is pretty typical romantic comedy/musical theater fare (I hate you - I love you - I hate you - I love you!), but the plot is really just an excuse for all that fabulous dancing, music, and snow.**
When I chatted with CDT's Artistic Director and director of this show, Michael Brindisi, on the
Twin Cities Theater Chat podcast last year, he said they've been wanting to get the rights to White Christmas for a while. But the Ordway had it (they did
a yummy production in 2016 that ran for only a few weeks). More recently, the dear departed
DalekoArts brought it to their tiny stage in a sweet intimate version. But now it's finally on the big stage at the Chan, in all its glory, running for four months (a relatively short stint by their standards). Highlights of this show are many, and include:
 |
Michael Gruber, Ann Michels, Andrea Mislan,
and Tony Vierling (photo by Dan Norman) |
The four leads are perfectly cast - the ever-charming Michael Gruber in the Bing Crosby role of Bob; everyone's longtime favorite Chanhassen dancer Tony Vierling in the Danny Kaye role Phil; Ann Michels reprising her role as Betty from the 2016 Ordway production (about which I wrote, "I'm not going to say Ann sounds like Rosemary Clooney, because she doesn't, she sounds like Ann Michels, which is to say gorgeous with her own unique style"); and Andrea Mislan as Judy. They're all wonderful individually, as the buddy and sister pairs, and as a foursome.- Great supporting turns from Michelle Barber as the busybody housekeeper (who happily gets to sing and ham it up in this adaptation); Joenathan Thomas as the stern but lovable general (I only wish he got to sing); Shad Hanley as the guys' wacky army buddy turned TV producer; Mark King as a tightly wound stage manager; and little scene stealer Janela Valerio as the General's granddaughter, the 9-year-old more than holding her own amongst the pros and staying in character and in the moment even when sitting off to the side (alternating in the role with Malee Cenizal).
 |
| the cast of White Christmas (photo by Dan Norman) |
An ensemble that is truly an embarrassment of riches. Including Jon Andrew Hegge stealing scenes with a word and a slow walk; the great Jen Burleigh-Bentz in the ensemble, appearing in maybe three or four scenes (but likely lending her amazing vocals to the backup singing off-stage); Dancers-with-a-capital-D Linda Talcott Lee, Elly Stahlke, Rush Benson, and Renee Guittar (paired with Chan staple Maureen Sherman-Mendez as a couple of ditsy blonds); ensemble members who recently shined in star or supporting roles (Sam Stoll from Jersey Boys, Alan Bach from Beautiful, Daysha Ramsey from The Prom, frequent ensemble member Tommy Benson, Serena Brook from Theater Latte Da's Falsettos, and Gabrielle Dominique from Little Shop at the Guthrie); local music star Kasano Mwanza; child actor Noah Coon all grown up; and Tommy McCarthy who played the role of Phil in Daleko's production. Keep your eyes on any and everyone in this ensemble, and you won't be disappointed. |
one of my favorite numbers from the movie: Ann Michels
in "Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me" (photo by Dan Norman) |
This beloved Irving Berlin score, which includes most of the songs from the movie as well as some additional tunes, gorgeously sung by all of the above and played by the ten-piece band on a raised platform at the back of the stage, under the music direction of Andy Kust (watch out for those horn players).- Because this is a show about a show, we get lots of big performance numbers that don't really have to do with the plot, it's just the troupe rehearsing for the big show. And each one is thrilling, from "Blue Skies" to "I Love a Piano," with the whole ensemble tapping and spinning and leaping to Tamara Kangas Erickson's choreography that fits the period and musical style, but feels fun and fresh.
- An overall gorgeous design, including rich period costumes that harken back to the iconic styles from the movie; a versatile set that includes charming barn backdrops rolled smoothly in and out, a rustic inn set, and more, with birch trees around the posts on stage and pine trees lining the back; warm lighting including twinkling starlight over the audience; and of course - snow. (Costume design by Rich Hamson, scenic design by Nayna Ramsey, lighting design by Sue Ellen Berger.)
 |
| the cast of White Christmas (photo by Dan Norman) |
After three fantastic regional premiere productions in a row (the sweet, funny, modern new musical
The Prom and the biomusicals
Jersey Boys and
Beautiful), they're returning to what I like to call the comfort food of #TCTheater. The actual food at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres and this production of
White Christmas are all about comfort - nourishing, warming, nostalgic, familiar, and entirely satisfying.
 |
| the cast of White Christmas (photo by Dan Norman) |
