Irving Berlin’s classic ‘White Christmas’ starts weekend shows

Elizabeth Cassada
News Reporter

With a cast of 36 actors, a 25-person orchestra and over 150 people involved in each night’s production, “White Christmas” is Samford’s theatre department’s largest production to date.

Preparations have been underway since May and the 2,650-seat Wright Center is sold out on opening night.

“It’s a monster of a show,” director Mark Castle said. “It’s our largest turnout. Filling about 900 seats in the Wright Center was our previous best, so it’s quite a big jump.”

Each year, Samford’s School of the Arts presents a “Festival of Christmas” that represents the sights, sounds and spirit of the season. Production responsibilities for the festival rotate between the different performing arts departments, and this year the musical theatre department was in charge.

The musical theatre department decided to produce the stage version of Irving Berlin’s classic 1954 film. The musical premiered in San Francisco in 2004, toured the country and then played on Broadway during the 2008 and 2009 holiday seasons. The rights have only recently become available for universities to produce “White Christmas.”

Aside from the addition of a few songs and characters, the musical is very similar to the film.

The story follows fellow performers and Army veterans fresh from World War II.

The two musically inclined friends meet a pair of sisters who quickly become the objects of their affection.

When they follow the sister act to a Vermont inn where they are performing a Christmas show, the men discover that their former commander is the owner of the lodge.

Since the season’s lack of snow has been bad for business, the duo decides to put on a show to bring customers to the inn and honor the down-on-his-luck general.

The cast performed the play for an audience of predominantly children and other groups from the community during yesterday’s 10 a.m. matinee.

“The reactions of an audience make it so much more exhilarating,” ensemble member and junior musical theatre major Mary Brzezinksi said. I know in those moments I bring joy to someone else, whether in the audience or even in the production with me, that I’m doing the right thing with my life.”

The musical officially opens tonight to a sold-out house at 7:30 p.m., thanks in part to Merrill Lynch’s sponsorship.

“I’m thrilled that it’s sold out Friday,” cast member and senior theatre major Alek Pike said. “I think it says great things about our community’s love for art in our school and city.”

Tickets are still available for shows on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. They are $6 for students, $12 for adults and $9 for senior citizens.

“I hope people come away with the feeling that they got a good Christmas story,” Castle said. “This play is about giving thanks for what we have and helping and caring for friends. That’s what Christmas is all about, and it reflects what we stand for at Samford.”

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