The upcoming Broadway production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, a new musical stage reinvention of the beloved classic film, is pleased to announce that Stephen Bogardus, Kerry O'Malley, Jeffry Denman, Meredith Patterson, Charles Dean and Susan Mansur will lead a cast of 33 in the highly anticipated holiday engagement.
Following acclaimed productions in San Francisco, Boston, Detroit, Toronto, Los Angeles and St. Paul,
Irving Berlin's
White Christmas arrives at the Marquis Theatre on Broadway when previews begin November 14 for a November 23, 2008 opening - guaranteeing New York a white Christmas this season! The limited run will play through January 4, 2009.
Every year, audiences of all ages enjoy the uplifting story of the movie
White Christmas. Now, a new generation will experience the story in a completely new way - live on stage. With the Broadway arrival of
Irving Berlin's
White Christmas, the show is poised to become New York's newest holiday tradition.
Irving Berlin's
White Christmas tells the story of two showbiz buddies, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who put on a show in a picturesque Vermont inn and find their perfect mates in the bargain - sister act Betty and Judy Haynes. Full of dancing, laughter and some of the greatest songs ever written, the musical promises to be a merry and bright theatrical experience for the entire family.
Tony Award nominee
Stephen Bogardus (Love! Valour! Compassion!) will star as song and dance man “Bob Wallace,” the role made famous by
Bing Crosby in the classic 1954 film. He has starred in the St. Paul and Boston companies of
Irving Berlin's
White Christmas and appeared on Broadway in
Old Acquaintance, Man of La Mancha,
James Joyce's The Dead, High Society, King David, Falsettos, Grapes of Wrath, Les Misérables and
West Side Story.
Kerry O'Malley will play “Betty Haynes,” one-half of the beautiful and talented sister act that teams up with Bob and Phil. She played the role in Boston in 2005 opposite Bogardus, as well as in St. Paul in 2006 and returned to star in the Boston company last season. She is best known to New York audiences for her portrayal of the Baker's Wife in the Broadway revival of Into the Woods, for which she received Drama Desk and Outer Critic's Circle Award nominations, and has also appeared in Annie Get Your Gun, Cyrano, Translations and at
City Center Encores! in Promises, Promises. She can currently be seen starring in the third season of the Showtime series "Brotherhood.”
Jeffry Denman will play Mr. Bogardus's army buddy, the charismatic ladies' man “Phil Davis,” the role he created in the world premiere in San Francisco in 2004, and reprised in the Los Angeles, St. Paul and Boston productions. On Broadway, he has appeared in the original cast of The Producers, the final company of Cats, the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Dream. Denman recently starred in A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine at The
Cape Playhouse and the world premiere of The Gershwins' An American in Paris at Houston's
Alley Theatre. He choreographed the long running Off-Broadway hit
Naked Boys Singing!Meredith Patterson will play Betty's younger sister “Judy Haynes,” and reunites with Denman after also originating her role in the 2004 San Francisco world premiere, followed by turns in the 2005 Los Angeles and 2007 Boston productions. She recently danced opposite Denman again in the world premiere of The Gershwins' An American in Paris. Patterson made her Broadway debut in the ensemble of the original cast of the 2001 revival of 42nd Street before graduating to the lead role of “Peggy Sawyer.” She has also appeared on Broadway in
Julie Taymor's The Green Bird, at
City Center Encores!, in
Irving Berlin's Face The Music and regionally in The Boy Friend in the Julie Andrew's role, directed by Andrews.
Charles Dean will play “General Waverly,” Bob and Phil's former commanding officer and proprietor of the Vermont inn. The veteran actor makes his Broadway debut while returning to the role he originated in the 2004 San Francisco world premiere, and reprised in last season's Boston engagement. He is currently starring in
Gore Vidal's The Best Man in Berkley, California where he has been a company member and associate artist for 20 years at the Tony Award® winning
Berkeley Repertory Theatre, having appeared in over 80 productions.
Susan Mansur will play “Martha Watson,” General Waverly's right-hand woman, a role she has returned to for the last four holiday seasons after originating in San Francisco. She recently starred in a new musical adaptation of Valley of the Dolls as “Helen Lawson,” and has appeared on Broadway in the original cast of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas as “Doatsey May” and the revival of Damn Yankees opposite
Jerry Lewis. Her Off-Broadway credits include Steel Magnolias and the original cast of the musical Ruthless!
Additional casting will be announced shortly.
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
Walter Bobbie (Chicago, Sweet Charity), with a book by
David Ives (Is He Dead?) and
Paul Blake, choreography by Tony Award® nominee
Randy Skinner (42nd Street), set design 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 (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 musical, including “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” “I Love a Piano,“ “Sisters,” “How Deep is the Ocean” and the unforgettable title song, “
White Christmas.” This production of
Irving Berlin's
White Christmas plays during the holiday season each year in a different city, bringing the spirit of love, charity, and song around the country for all to enjoy.
Irving Berlin's
White Christmas made its world premiere stage debut during the 2004 holiday season in San Francisco, garnering rave reviews and establishing its status as a don't-miss holiday show.
The show has since dazzled audiences across the country. The critics have said: “
Irving Berlin's
White Christmas makes you feel like you've stepped into a Technicolor movie musical,” raved the Oakland Tribune. “A holiday juggernaut. There's plenty to ooh and aah over. One well-loved Berlin tune after another” declared the Los Angeles Times. “Plenty of razzmatazz, including snow!” said the Boston Globe. The Detroit Free Press proclaimed “Highly entertaining holiday fare!” and the St. Paul Star Tribune called the musical “A dazzling, sweet work that deserves plenty of praise.”
BIOGRAPHIES
Stephen Bogardus (Bob Wallace) has appeared in the St. Paul and Boston companies of
Irving Berlin's
White Christmas. Broadway:
Old Acquaintance; Man of La Mancha;
James Joyce's The Dead (Helen Hays nom); High Society; King David; Love! Valour! Compassion! (Tony Award nomination, Obie Award); Falsettos; Grapes of Wrath; Les Misérables;
West Side Story. Off-Broadway: Sweet Adeline and Allegro (
City Center Encores!); Love! Valour! Compassion! (MTC); March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland (Playwrights Horizon); Genesis and Umbrellas of Cherbourg (NYSF); No Way to Treat a Lady (Hudson Guild); Feathertop (WPA); In Trousers (Promenade); The Pavilion (Rattlestick Theatre). Regional: Some Men (Philadelphia Theatre Co.), A Little Night Music (PCLO), M Butterfly (
Arena Stage), Elegies (Canon Theatre, L.A.), Bells Are Ringing (Reprise!, L.A.), Show Boat and Chess (Nat'l tours), City of Angels (Shubert, L.A.), 80 Days (La Jolla), Progress (Long Wharf). Film: Julie and Julia; Alchemy; Love! Valour! Compassion!; States of Control; Second Best. T.V.: "Eleventh Hour," "Life," "Without a Trace," “Monk,” “Ed,” “Law & Order” (also “CI,” “SVU”), “Now and Again.”
Kerry O'Malley (Betty Haynes) also played the role of “Betty Haynes” in
Irving Berlin's
White Christmas in Boston in 2005 & 2007 and in St. Paul in 2006. Broadway: Into the Woods revival (The Baker's Wife, Outer Critics Circle and Drama Desk nominations, cast album), Annie Get Your Gun (“Dolly Tate” and understudy to
Reba McEntire), Cyrano, Translations.
City Center Encores!: Promises, Promises (“Fran” opposite
Martin Short).Other New York Theatre credits include the original cast of How I Learned to Drive at the
Vineyard Theatre,
Conor McPherson's Dublin Carol at the
Atlantic Theatre Company, Finian's Rainbow at the
Irish Repertory Theatre, Flight at the
Lucille Lortel Theatre, Bright Lights Big City at New York Theatre Workshop, Over the River and Through the Woods at the
John Houseman Theatre. Regional Theatre credits include her recent turn as “Rebecca Klemm” in The Gershwins' An American in Paris at the
Alley Theatre. Television: Currently shooting Season 3 of Showtime's critically acclaimed Brotherhood as Mary-Kate (the sister). Series regular on Fox's Costello and NBC's The
Mike O'Malley Show; Guest starring roles on King of Queens, My Name is Earl, Kidnapped, Charmed, Without a Trace, NYPD Blue, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, Brooklyn South, Monk. Film: upcoming Case 39 opposite
Renee Zellweger, M. Night Shyamalan's The Happening, Rounders, and The Flying Scissors. Graduate: Duke University, Harvard's ART Institute.
Jeffry Denman (Phil Davis) is proud to return to the role he created in San Francisco (2004); also Los Angeles, St. Paul and Boston (IRNE Award winner). Most recently starred in world premiere of The Gershwins' An American in Paris (Houston,
Alley Theatre), On Your Toes (LA Reprise - Ovation Award nom.) and Face the Music (
City Center Encores!). Broadway: The Producers, Cats, How to Succeed and Dream. Off-Broadway: Children of A Lesser God (Keen Company), Pvt. Wars (Incumbo).Regional: Dinner with Friends, Crazy For You (IRNE award for Best Actor), Singin' in the Rain. TV: Law & Order. Recordings:
Irving Berlin's
White Christmas, Face the Music. Author: A Year with The Producers (Routledge). Concert: Jazz Turns at Birdland (Backstage Bistro Award winner); soloist w/
Michael Feinstein (
Carnegie Hall) and w/
Marvin Hamlisch (Kennedy Center).Director/Choreographer: B'way By the Year - 1947 and A Tribute to Lerner and Loewe both at Town Hall. Choreographer:
Naked Boys Singing! (Off-Broadway); Yank! (Gallery Players). www.jeffrydenman.com.
Meredith Patterson (Judy Haynes) originated the role of Judy Haynes in San Francisco and has performed the role in Los Angeles as well as last season in Boston. She most recently starred in the Alley Theater's production of The Gershwins' An American in Paris. She made her
City Center Encores! debut as “Kit Baker” in
Irving Berlin's Face The Music (cast album). Broadway: Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street revival (original cast), The Green Bird (Dir:
Julie Taymor). Theater: Goin' Down Swinging (NYMTF), “Polly” in The Boy Friend (Dir:
Julie Andrews: Bay Street ), Louise in
Steve Martin's The Underpants (Dir:
John Rando, Geffen), Young Phyllis in Papermill's Follies (cast album). Television: “Melinda” on CBS's “Guiding Light,” opposite
Tom Selleck as “Missy Tiggs” on ABC's “Boston Legal.” Film: My Father's Will (2008),
Sidney Lumet's Before The Devil Knows Your Dead,
Jim Jarmusch's Broken Flowers,
Garry Marshall's Princess Diaries II, Company Man, Last Laugh at Pips. Her album of her original music is available at
www.meredithpatterson.com.
Charles Dean (General Henry Waverly) is currently starring in
Gore Vidal's The Best Man at the Aurora in Berkley. He played “General Waverly” in the 2004 world premiere of
Irving Berlin's
White Christmas in San Francisco and last year in Boston. He was a company member and associate artist for 20 years at the Tony Award® winning
Berkeley Repertory Theatre where he appeared in over 80 productions including “Hoss” in The Tooth of Crime, Long Days Journey into Night, Tartuffe, The Illusion and Speed-the-Plow. Regional: American Conservatory Theatre, The Guthrie, The Alley, Seattle Rep,
The Old Globe (San Diego), Milwaukee Rep,
Center Stage (Baltimore), The
Dallas Theatre Center, The Alliance, San Jose Rep and others. Mr. Dean has six times received an award for outstanding performance from the San Francisco/Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle including, in 2005, an award for “Victor” in The Price.
Susan Mansur (Martha Watson) has played the role of “Martha” for the last four holiday seasons, most recently in St. Louis. She also recently starred in a new musical adaptation of Valley of the Dolls as the deliciously malicious “Helen Lawson.” On Broadway she has appeared in the original cast of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (Doatsey May) and the revival of Damn Yankees with
Jerry Lewis. Off-Broadway roles include Steel Magnolias, Ruthless (original cast), Smoke on the Mountain and Spitfire Grill. Susan has played Tammy Wynette's Meemaw in Stand by Your Man at the Ryman and Doobie Phillips' mama in the rock opera Memphis by Bon Jovi's
David Bryan and
Joe DiPietro.
TICKET INFORMATION:
Ticket prices are $66.50, $91.50 and $121.50 (including $1.50 facility fee), and are available now exclusively to
American Express card members through Wednesday, September 17 by visiting
www.broadway.yahoo.com.Beginning Sunday, September 21, 2008, tickets will be available to the general public through Ticketmaster by calling 212-307-4100, online at www.ticketmaster.com. 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 14, 2008,
Irving Berlin's
White Christmas will play the following unique performance schedule per week:
Week of November 10, 2008:Friday & Saturday at 8p, Sunday evening at 7p, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p.
Week of November 17, 2008:
Wednesday – Saturday at 8p, Tuesday at 7p, Sunday evening at 6p (Opening Night).
Wednesday & Saturday matinees at 2p.
Week of November 24, 2008:Wednesday – Saturday at 8p, Tuesday at 7p. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p.
Weeks of December 1 and December 8, 2008:Wednesday – Saturday at 8p, Tuesday & Sunday evening at 7p. Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p.
Week of December 15, 2008:Wednesday – Saturday at 8p, Tuesday & Sunday evening at 7p.
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p.
Week of December 22, 2008:Monday, Friday & Saturday at 8p, Tuesday & Sunday evening at 7p.
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2p. Dark on Christmas Day, December 25.
Week of December 29, 2008:
Monday, Friday & Saturday at 8p, Tuesday at 7p.
Tuesday, Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2:00p.
DARK - New Year's Eve & Day on December 31 & January 1, 2009.
FINAL PERFORMANCE - Sunday, January 4, 2009.
For more information visit
www.whitechristmasthemusical.com
