Posted on November 6, 2012
The South Arkansas Arts Center plans to make your holiday season merry and bright with the 2012 holiday production of "Irving Berlin?s White Christmas.? The Simmons First Bank of El Dorado sponsored musical brings the classic 1954 film to the stage of the Callaway Theatre, November 29 through December 9.
The cast of SAAC?s production, under the direction of Gary Hall, have been hard at work staging the production. The new stage musical, which opened on Broadway in 2006, is based on the Paramount picture of the same name starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.
Having left the Army after W.W.II, Bob Wallace (played by Ronnie Clay) and Phil Davis (played by Darrin Riley) team up to become a top song-and-dance act. Davis plays matchmaker and introduces Wallace to a pair of beautiful sisters, Betty (played by Julie Spencer) and Judy (played by Rebecca Briggs) Haynes, who also have a song-and-dance act. When Betty and Judy travel to a Vermont lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to find their former commander, General Waverly (played by Roland Bradfute), as the lodge owner. A series of romantic mix-ups ensue as the performers try to help the general.
Other members of the cast are: Sherri Bradfute as Martha Watson; Sophia Meyer as Susan Waverly; Brian Points as Ralph Sheldrake; Caitlin Lowery as Rita; Caitlin Moseley as Rhoda; Dennis Keaton as Ezekiel Foster; Justin Howard as Mike; Adria Norton as Tessie; and Lucio Aguirre as Jimmy.
Cast members playing multiple characters are Shelby Gage, Allen Pirnique, Jim Roomsberg, Hannah May George, Vicky Downey, Tammy Armstrong, Ricky Green, Austin Crank, Betsy Phillips, Alisa Proctor, Lamar Puckett and Savannah Spears.
Vocal and Music Director Liz Slater has been busy teaching Irving Berlin?s songs, with all of their tightly blended harmonies, to the cast. The show?s choreographer, Tara Gathwright, has been working with the dance chorus, which features Sara Cannon, Casey Cates, Austin Crank, Jennifer Flournoy, Hannah May George, Brian Points, Melissa Spears, Julia Daniels, Jordan Jackson, Rachel John, Amy Tolbert and Jason Flournoy.
The SAAC box office opens to the public on November 15. "Irving Berlin?s White Christmas? is perfect for the entire family this holiday, and it is only at SAAC. For more information, contact the SAAC office at (870) 862-5474 or visit www.saac-arts.org. "