“LET YOURSELF GO!” – Irving Berlin
“IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS”
ANNOUNCES PRINCIPAL CASTING
JAMES CLOW, MELISSA ERRICO, TONY YAZBECK, MARA DAVI
STAR ON BROADWAY
ALSO STARRING
RUTH WILLIAMSON, PETER REARDON, REMY AUBERJONOIS,
CLIFF BEMIS, MADELEINE ROSE YEN and DAVID OGDEN STIERS
Previews Begin Friday, November 13, 2009
Limited Engagement – 61 Performances Only – through January 3, 2010
The Tony Award® nominated hit musical IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS, the stage reinvention of the beloved classic film, directed by Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Randy Skinner, with music supervision by Rob Berman, is pleased to announce Broadway principal casting.
James Clow, Melissa Errico, Tony Yazbeck and Mara Davi will star in the Broadway return production also starring Ruth Williamson, Peter Reardon, Remy Auberjonois, Cliff Bemis, Madeleine Yen and David Ogden Stiers, who will lead a cast of 33 in the limited holiday engagement at the Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway).
Every holiday season, audiences of all ages enjoy the uplifting story of White Christmas. Now, the Tony Award® nominated Broadway musical IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS has become New York’s newest holiday tradition.
Previews begin Friday, November 13, 2009 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 3, 2010.
The musical tells the story of two showbiz buddies who put on a show in a picturesque Vermont inn, and find their perfect mates in the bargain. Full of dancing, laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written, IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS is a merry and bright theatrical experience for the entire family.
JAMES CLOW will star as song and dance man “Bob Wallace,” the role made famous by Bing Crosby in the classic 1954 film. He starred in the role last season in the Detroit production at the Fox Theater and has appeared in the Broadway musicals Assassins, Wonderful Town, Company, She Loves Me and Blood Brothers.
MELISSA ERRICO will play “Betty Haynes,” one-half of the beautiful and talented sister act that teams up with Bob and Phil. She received Tony®, Drama Desk, Outer Critic’s Circle and Drama League nominations for her starring role in Amour and has also appeared on Broadway in Dracula, My Fair Lady, High Society and Anna Karenina.
TONY YAZBECK will play Mr. Clow’s army buddy, the charismatic ladies’ man “Phil Davis,” a role he played in the 2007 Toronto holiday engagement of the musical. He also appeared on Broadway in the recent revival of Gypsy starring Patti LuPone, A Chorus Line and in On the Town for City Center Encores!
MARA DAVI will play Betty’s younger sister “Judy Haynes” after starring in the role last season in the St. Paul production at the Ordway Center. She recently starred in the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line, as “Janet Van de Graaff” in The Drowsy Chaperone, and in the title role in No, No Nanette for City Center Encores!
RUTH WILLIAMSON will play “Martha Watson,” General Waverly’s right-hand woman, a role she will return to after first playing it in Los Angeles in 2005 and again in St. Paul in 2006. She recently starred in the Broadway revival of La Cage Aux Folles.
PETER REARDON returns to the role of Bob and Phil’s former Army buddy “Ralph Sheldrake” from last season’s original Broadway company. He has also appeared on Broadway in Urinetown, Passion, Meet Me in St. Louis and La Cage Aux Folles.
REMY AUBERJONOIS will make his Irving Berlin’s White Christmas debut in the role of Columbia Inn’s neurotic stage manager “Mike Nulty.” He has appeared on Broadway in Frost/Nixon and The Country Girl.
CLIFF BEMIS appeared in last season’s original Broadway company as the Columbia Inn stage hand “Ezekiel Foster,” a role he originated in the world premiere of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas in 2004. He also recently starred in the first national tour of The Drowsy Chaperone as “Feldzieg.”
MADELEINE ROSE YEN makes her Broadway debut and returns to the role of General Henry Waverly’s precocious granddaughter “Susan Waverly” following appearing in last season’s Detroit production at the Fox Theater. She plays “Milli” in the upcoming Nickelodeon cartoon series “Umizoomi,” and recently appeared at Carnegie Hall as “Anna” in the concert presentation of the musical Kristina.
DAVID OGDEN STIERS will play “General Henry Waverly,” Bob and Phil’s former commanding officer and proprietor of the Vermont inn. The Emmy Award® nominated actor, widely known to television audiences as “Major Charles Winchester“ from the iconic series “M*A*S*H,” returns to the role he played in the 2005 Los Angeles production at the Pantages Theatre, the 2006 St. Paul company at the Ordway Center, and last season’s Detroit company at the Fox Theater. He has appeared on Broadway in the The Magic Show, Ulysses in Nighttown and Scapin.
Additional casting will be announced shortly.
IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS made its celebrated Broadway debut at the Marquis Theatre last season following acclaimed productions around the country. The New York critics stuffed the lavish musical’s stocking full of praise! The New York Times said “This cozy trip down memory lane should be put on your wish list,” Variety raved “A thrill. Melodious numbers, sparkling visuals and an enchanting snow-biz finale” and NY-1 News proclaimed the musical “The perfect gift! Dazzling choreography and glorious tunes.”
IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS is produced by Kevin McCollum, John Gore, Tom McGrath, Paul Blake, The Producing Office, Dan Markley, Sonny Everett and Broadway Across America in association with Paramount Pictures.
IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS is directed by Tony Award® winner and three-time nominee Walter Bobbie (Chicago, Footloose, A Grand Night for Singing), with a book by David Ives and Paul Blake and choreography by three-time Tony Award® nominee Randy Skinner (Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, 42nd Street, Ain’t Broadway Grand).
Set design is by Tony Award® nominee Anna Louizos (In the Heights, Avenue Q), costumes by Tony Award® nominee Carrie Robbins (Grease!, Over Here), lighting design by Tony Award® winner Ken Billington (Chicago, The Drowsy Chaperone, Annie), sound design by Tony Award® nominee Acme Sound Partners (In the Heights, Spamalot), orchestrations by Tony Award® nominee Larry Blank (Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, The Drowsy Chaperone), vocal and dance arrangements by Bruce Pomahac, music supervision by Rob Berman, and casting by Jay Binder C.S.A. The stage production is based on the Paramount Pictures film, written for the screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama, and Melvin Frank.
Many Irving Berlin classics are showcased in the new production, including “Count Your Blessings,” “Sisters,” “How Deep is the Ocean” and the unforgettable title song, “White Christmas.”
This production of IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS will also embark on a national tour this holiday season, bringing the spirit of love, charity, and song to Omaha, Nebraska; Cincinnati, Ohio; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; East Lansing, Michigan; St. Louis, Missouri; Louisville, Kentucky and Kansas City, Missouri for all to enjoy. For tour information visit www.whitechristmasthemusical.com.
IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS made its world premiere stage debut during the 2004 holiday season in San Francisco at the Curran Theater, garnering rave reviews and establishing its status as a don’t-miss holiday show.
BIOGRAPHIES
JAMES CLOW (Bob Wallace) New York Credits include: Madison Square Garden: Peter Pan, Broadway: Assassins, Wonderful Town, Company, She Loves Me, Blood Brothers. City Center Encores!: A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. Off-Broadway: Marc Blitzstein’s Juno. National Tours: Les Misérables, Jekyll and Hyde, Oklahoma!, Sunset Boulevard, Jesus Christ Superstar and Into The Woods. PBS’ “Great Performances – Sondheim a Celebration at Carnegie Hall,” and the 2005 Emmy Award-winning “Live from Lincoln Center – Passion.” BFA from Syracuse University, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and Groundlings Improv in Los Angeles.
MELISSA ERRICO (Betty Haynes) is beyond delighted to return to Broadway where she has starred in Michel Legrand’s Amour (2003 Tony Award® nomination, Outer Critics nomination, Drama League Honor), My Fair Lady (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Helen Hayes nominations), High Society (Drama Desk, Outer Critics nominations, Drama League Honor), Christopher Hampton’s Dracula, Anna Karenina, Les Misérables (national tour). She starred in The Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration’s Sunday in the Park with George (“Dot/Marie,” Helen Hayes nomination). Leading roles in Off-Broadway plays include the hit revival of Wally Shawn’s Aunt Dan and Lemon (New Group) with Lili Taylor. As a member of The Irish Repertory Theatre, she starred in The Importance of Being Earnest (Drama Desk nomination), Major Barbara (Drama League Honor) and the runaway hit Finian’s Rainbow (2004 Drama League Honor), a performance that earned her the moniker “the voice of enchantment” from the New York Times. The production transferred to another hit run at The Westport Country Playhouse, and was recorded for Ghostlight Records. City Center Encores!: Call Me Madam (with Tyne Daly), and critical acclaim for her portrayal of “the Goddess” in Kurt Weill’s One Touch of Venus (Lucille Lortel Award). Williamstown: The Threepenny Opera (with Betty Buckley). The Hollywood Bowl (2004-2006): My Fair Lady (with John Lithgow and Roger Daltrey), Camelot (with Jeremy Irons) and The Sound of Music (with Marni Nixon/John Schneider). Film includes Frequency, Life or Something Like It (opposite Angelina Jolie), Loverboy (with Kyra Sedgewick, directed by Kevin Bacon) and Mockingbird Don’t Sing (Lifetime). TV includes “Central Park West,” “Ed,” “Law & Order,” “Miss Match.” Graduate of Yale. Concert stages include: The London Palladium, Avery Fisher, Wolf Trap, The Kennedy Center Opera House, Feinsteins, Guild Hall. Debut album: Blue Like That (EMI), followed by 2008’s acclaimed Lullabies and Wildflowers (Velour/Universal. Melissa is the proud Mama of three very little girls: three-year-old Victoria and 9-month old twins Diana and Juliette; and lives in NYC with her husband Patrick McEnroe. She is the founder of The Bowery Babes, a NY=2 0non-profit mothers support group in New York City with over 700 members.
In recent years, Melissa has begun to establish herself as a soloist with symphonies all over the world, having appeared with The Royal Philharmonic in her London debut, The Cleveland Orchestra, The New World Symphony and repeatedly with The National Symphony at The Kennedy Center, and dozens more. She has had the honor of working with esteemed conductors such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Michel Legrand, Marvin Hamlisch, Don Pippin, John Mauceri and Paul Gemignani. She has shown herself to be an eclectic solo artist, as this career turn follows several years of working with her jazz-based band at such venues as Birdland, Joes Pub, The Living Room, Dizzy’s at Lincoln Center, The Oak Room at the Algonquin and The Cafe Carlyle, and the release of two pop-jazz-folk recordings: “Blue Like That” produced by the legendary Arif Mardin, and “Lullabies and Wildflowers,” produced by Rob Mathes (2008). Her third cd is recorded and in final mixing stages: a CD arranged, conducted and conceived by Michel Legrand and produced by Phil Ramone, with a 100-piece symphony in Brussels and featuring Legrand’s Oscar-winning songs and new material written for Melissa by Legrand and Alan/Marilyn Bergman.
TONY YAZBECK (Phil Davis) recently completed his run as “Tulsa” in Gypsy on Broadway receiving an Outer Critics Circle nomination for his performance. He also recently starred as “Gabey” in On the Town at City Center Encores! Other Broadway credits include “Al” in A Chorus Line, Never Gonna Dance, Oklahoma!, and Gypsy with Tyne Daly. Off-Broadway credits include “Charles” in Fanny Hill at the York and the City Center Encores! productions of Pardon My English, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, The Apple Tree, and Gypsy. Tony has toured nationally with Thoroughly Modern Millie, Annie Get Your Gun, and Doctor Doolittle. Tony starred as “Phil Davis” in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas in Toronto. Other regional theatre includes “Wally Winston/M. Doucet” in Animal Crackers at The Goodman Theatre, “Tony” in West Side Story at Trinity Rep., “Bobby” in Crazy For You at Maine State, and “Tony” in Copacabana at Pittsburgh CLO. He has appeared on television in “All My Children” and “As the World Turns” and is presently in the feature film documentary Every Little Step.
MARA DAVI (Judy Haynes). Broadway: The Drowsy Chaperone (Janet Van de Graaff), A Chorus Line (Maggie Winslow, Original Revival Cast). New York: No, No Nanette (Nanette) and Of Thee I Sing (Miss Emily Benson) both at City Center Encores! Regional: Animal Crackers (Arabella Rittenhouse/Mrs. Whitehead) Goodman Theatre, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie Dillmount) Sacramento Music Circus, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas at The Ordway, St. Paul, Originated the role of Gabrielle Gerard in Dancing in the Dark (The Old Globe Theatre, San Diego), Tour: 42nd Street (Peggy Sawyer), Japan and North America. Workshop: The Bandwagon (Gabrielle Gerard), Mara has performed her solo concerts for Birdland, Ars Nova and with The Lyrica Chamber Orchestra. Website: www.maradavi.com.
RUTH WILLIAMSON (Martha Watson) appeared in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas in Los Angeles in 2005 and the 2006 St. Paul holiday engagement. Broadway: La Cage Aux Folles, The Music Man (Outer Critics Circle nomination), Epic Proportions, Little Me, Guys and Dolls, Smile, Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Annie. Off-Broadway: MTC’s The Green Heart (Drama Desk nomination), MCC’s The English Teachers, Queen Amarantha, The Good Times Are Killing Me, The Leonard Bernstein Revue, DuBarry Was a Lady (City Center Encores!). Film: Legally Blonde II; Easy Six; Family Man; Malcolm X; Foreign Student; Die Mommie, Die (singing VO); Psycho Beach Party; Double Parked; Italian Movie. TV: “The O.C.,” “The Practice,” “Kingpin,” “ER,” “What I Like About You,” “Enterprise,” “Law & Order,” “Wonderland,” “Chestnut Hill” (NBC pilot) and recurs as Mrs. Grubman on “Nip/Tuck.”
PETER REARDON (Ralph Sheldrake) played the same role in last season’s original Broadway company. He has also appeared on Broadway in Urinetown, Passion, Meet Me in St. Louis and La Cage Aux Folles. National Tours: Ragtime, Falsettos, Company. Film: An Englishman in New York, Never Again. Television: “Sex and the City,” “Miracle’s Boys,” “All My Children,” “Another World.” Recently played “Lorenzo de Ponte” in Lorenzo at NYMF and “The Padre” in Man of La Mancha at Sacramento Music Circus.
REMY AUBERJONOIS (Mike Nulty). Broadway: Frost/Nixon, The Country Girl. New York: Atlantic Theater, the Public, Primary Stages, Studio Dante, Rattlestick, Soho Rep, EST, HERE and others. Regional: Williamstown Festival, Yale Rep, the Old Globe, McCarter, Dallas Theater Center, the Taper and more. TV includes “Law & Order,” “Weeds,” “Mad Men,” “Criminal Intent,” “SVU,” “The Sopranos,” “Sex and the City,” “ER.” Film: Michael Clayton and others.
CLIFF BEMIS (Ezekial Foster) appeared in last season’s original Broadway company in the role which he also originated in the world premiere of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas in 2004. He starred in the first National tour of The Drowsy Chaperone as “Feldzieg,” and can be seen on the big screen as Dr. Mordecai Ham in Billy, The Early Years. Proud member of Actor’s Equity since 1968.
MADELEINE ROSE YEN (Susan Waverly). Struck by the theater bug when she made her debut in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at age 8, Madeleine has also appeared as Jessie in Annie Get Your Gun, Peter Pan in Peter Pan and Beauty and the Beast. She plays “Milli” in the upcoming Nickelodeon cartoon series “Umizoomi,” and recently appeared at Carnegie Hall as “Anna” in the concert presentation of the musical Kristina.
DAVID OGDEN STIERS (General Henry Waverly). Disney Voices: Lilo and Stitch, Beauty and the Beast, Pocahontas, The Hunchback of Notre Dame; Spirited Away TV: Six years on M*A*S*H as Major Winchester (two Emmy nominations), NBC Miniseries First Modern Olympics (Emmy nomination); USA Cable Series The Dead Zone, Stargate: Atlantis, North and South, The Final Days, Star Trek: The Next Generation. Film: The Majestic; The Curse of the Jade Scorpion; Better Off Dead; The Accidental Tourist; Doc Hollywood; Bad Company; Mighty Aphrodite; Together Again for the First Time. Broadway: Ulysses in Nighttown (with Zero Mostel), The Magic Show, Beauty and the Beast Mr. Stiers has conducted numerous symphony orchestras including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Chicago. He is the Associate Conductor of the Newport Symphony Orchestra and the Ernest Bloch Music Festival in Newport, OR.
TICKET INFORMATION:
Tickets prices are $66.50, $91.50 and $126.50 (including $1.50 facility fee), and are available by calling Ticketmaster at 212-307-4100 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. A date will be announced for the Marquis Theatre box office (1535 Broadway) opening. For group sales details and pricing call The Group Sales Box Office at 800-223-7565 or visit www.bestofbroadway.com.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
Beginning Friday, November 13th, 2009, IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS will play the following unique performance schedule per week:
Week of November 9th, 2009:
Friday & Saturday at 8p, Sunday evening at 7p
Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p.
Week of November 16th, 2009:
Thursday – Saturday at 8p, Tuesday & Sunday evenings at 7p
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p
Week of November 23rd, 2009:
Tuesday at 7p, Wednesday – Saturday at 8p
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p
Week of November 30th, 2009:
Thursday – Saturday at 8p, Tuesday & Sunday evenings at 7p
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p
Weeks of December 7th and December 14th, 2009:
Tuesday at 7p, Thursday – Saturday at 8p
Wednesday & Friday – Sunday matinees at 2p
Week of December 21st, 2009:
Monday, Wednesday & Saturday at 8p, Tuesday & Sunday evenings at 7p
Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p
Dark on Christmas Day – Friday, December 25
Week of December 28th, 2009:
Monday, Wednesday & Saturday at 8p, Tuesday at 7p
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p
Dark on New Year’s Eve & Day – Thursday, December 31 & Friday, January 1
FINAL PERFORMANCE – Sunday, January 3, 2010
For More Information Visit: www.whitechristmasbroadway.com
Filed under: WHITE CHRISTMAS | Leave a comment »
