The opening lyric of the world’s most recorded song perfectly articulates the current sentiment held by hundreds of our customers.

In case you haven’t heard, Kevin McCollum and Jeffrey Seller (RENT and AVENUE Q), Paul Blake (long-associated with St. Louis’ Muny), and Paramount Pictures (producers of the original film) have created a glittering, sparkling, stage adaptation of Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS. With an adapted libretto by Blake and David Ives and under the direction of Tony award winning-director Walter Bobbie and choreographer Randy Skinner, WHITE CHRISTMAS played to ecstatic audiences and glorious reviews at San Francisco’s Curran Theatre for a 10-week run in November and December 2004.

So successful was that endeavor and so great is the demand for a new stage musical with a non-stop string of hit Irving Berlin tunes, plans are already underway to mount three physical productions in 2005 to play San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Boston among other cities.

Despite its iconic title and universally known title song, WHITE CHRISTMAS is a musical that will enchant audiences at any time of year.

What’s it all about?

It’s winter 1954. America’s favorite song-and-dance team—Bob Wallace (the business man) and Phil Davis (the ladies’ man)—are discovered in mid-act (Medley—“Happy Holidays”/”Let Yourself Go”). Before boarding a train for Florida to try out a new revue, Phil makes another stab at fixing Bob up romantically (“Love and the Weather”). At the recommendation of an old army buddy they catch the final performance of a female act Phil says would be good in the revue (“Sisters”). After the show Bob and Phil meet the sisters—Judy (full of personality) and Betty (full of defenses). Phil and Judy hit it off (“The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing”), Bob and Betty don’t.

The guys and girls part company to catch trains to their respective next engagements (the guys to Florida, the girls to an inn in Pinetree, Vermont)—except that Phil and Judy have conspired that he and Bob should join the girls on their train to Vermont. Bob is furious and Betty is mortified to learn of the scheme but with nothing to be done they anticipate the pleasures of Vermont (“Snow”).

They arrive in Pinetree to find unseasonably balmy weather and no snow. The unexpected weather has driven away the inn’s guests forcing the cancellation of the girls’ act. Enter the crusty innkeeper. Bob and Phil recognize him as General Waverly, the commander under whom they served in World War II. They learn from the inn’s housekeeper that the General is dissatisfied with retirement and despite his attempts to rejoin the military, the military isn’t biting (“What Do You Do With a General?”). She also tells them business is not thriving at the inn.

Bob and Phil resolve to help out “the Old Man”. They’ll bring the cast of their new revue to Pinetree, Betty and Judy will be in the show as will the inn’s housekeeper—Martha, the ‘megaphone’ Watson—“veteran of six flops in a row on the great white way” (“Let Me Sing and I’m Happy”) and guests will flock to the inn.

On the way to the inevitable happy ending are wonderful moments of pathos (“Count Your Blessings”); comedy (“After You Get What You Want, You Don’t Want It”); dance spectacle (“Blue Skies”, “I Love a Piano”); charm (“Falling Out of Love Can Be Fun”); unrequited romance (“Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me”/“How Deep Is the Ocean?”); and a heart warming finale (“I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm”). Oh, yes — there’s also the title song.

The release of performance rights is still being determined. As WHITE CHRISTMAS continues to play some of the major metropolitan areas at the holidays watch these pages for information about the future release of rights at other times of the year. Or for more information visit our website: www.rnhtheatricals.com and access the link to www.whitechristmasthemusical.com. But don’t let the snowflakes fool you. WHITE CHRISTMAS can be a wonderful gift from you to your audience in the spring, summer or fall.


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