Dreams of a “White Christmas” come true in LC’s upcoming production
By Laura Sheikh
The winter musical at LC this year is Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” based on the beloved 1954 film starring Spokane’s very own Bing Crosby.
The show will be running December 4th, 5th, 11th, and 12th at 7 p.m. As well as December 6th and 13th at 2 p.m. Tickets are $10 for students, and $12 for adults.
Set in the years following World War II, the musical follows veterans-turned-entertainers Bob Wallace (Asa Wadden) and Phil Davis (Josh White), who have become national sensations for their song-and-dance act. In the spirit of romance, when the pair crosses paths with a duo of singing sisters —Betty Haynes (Luci Edmonds) and Judy Haynes (Alex Read)—they follow them to a Vermont lodge, which just so happens to be owned by their former military commander. After they learn the lodge is failing, the friends team up with the girls to put on a Christmas show in hopes of saving it.
Songs like “Blue Skies”, “I Love a Piano”, and of course the one and only “White Christmas” which will be presented in a sing-along format, make up the musical score for this dazzling production.
The show boasts 28 cast members and 28 crew members. LC’s “White Christmas” is directed by Greg Pschirrer and Suzanne Maguire. The show is choreographed by Angela Pierson, with help from student choreographers Grace Parker, Alex Read, and Josh White.
Tap dancing, ’50s nostalgia, and holiday spirit are guarantees.
Courtesy of Richard Maguire
Asa Wadden, left, and Josh White, right, hold props while rehearsing for LC’s production of “White Christmas.”
Asa Wadden, who plays Bob Wallace, said he got a lot of his inspiration for his character from 20th century icons like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly.
“Just kind of those old, really famous, jazz singers who were known for having a baritone voice,” Wadden said.
His favorite song in the show is “Blue Skies.”
“It’s really hard, but it’s also really, really fun and rewarding. And, I get a high note at the end in which I get to just blast my lungs out.”
Courtesy of Richard Maguire
Luci Edmonds, left, and Alex Read, right, rehearse a scene between the Haynes sisters for LC’s production of “White Christmas.”
Alex Read, who plays Judy, one of the leading ladies, describes her character as a quintessential showbiz girl.
Judy is “a dancer, a performer, and she’s very sultry and likes to go after the guys.”
In other words, “Judy is very much not me,” Read jokes.
However, they are similar in some ways.
Judy is “also a little sister, which I am. So she does look up to Betty. She does care about how Betty feels.”
Read thinks it’s the cast that makes the show stand out from other productions.
“We’ve been working on it for so long. Everyone here is such good friends. It’s not just a bunch of people who don’t know each other doing it. We already have strong relationships with each other, and then we’ve made them even stronger working through the rehearsal process.”
Make sure to go check it out!
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Tickets are currently available for purchase in the Business Office for Tiger Drama’s production of White Christmas. $10 for students, $12 for adults.
Performance dates/times:
Thursday, December 4 - 7:00pm
Friday, December 5 - 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 6 - 2:00pm
Thursday, December 11 - 7:00 pm
Friday, December 12 - 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 13 - 2:00 pm