Bogardus & Uriarte Berry Set for Muny's White Christmas

Tony Award-nominee Stephen Bogardus and Sarah Uriarte Berry will headline the cast of the St. Louis Muny's White Christmas, the stage version of the Irving Berlin film classic that has fast become a regional favorite.  The musical will run from July 24th through July 30th at 8:15 PM.

Directed by Paul Blake, White Christmas will star Bogardus (Man of La Mancha, Love! Valour! Compassion!, Falsettos) as Bob Wallace, Uriarte Berry (The Light in the Piazza, Taboo) as Betty Haynes, Shannon M. O'Bryan as Judy Haynes, Dirk Lumbard as Phil Davis, Joneal Joplin as General Henry Waverly, Wesla Whitfield as Martha, Frank Vlastnik as Ralph Sheldrake and Berklea Going as Susan Waverly.

Bogardus was previously featured in White Christmas' Boston cast.  Last holiday season, productions of the musical played concurrently in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Boston.  Walter Bobbie directed.

The cast will also include Aaron Kaburick, Cara Kjellman, Kelly Sheehan, Sara Shepard, Lisa M. Ramey, Joseph Medeiros, Amos Wolff, Drew Humphrey, James Anthony, Laura Ackerman and Colt Prattes.

The musical tells the story of two showbiz buddies putting on a show in a picturesque Vermont inn, and finding their perfect mates in the bargain," according to press notes.  White Christmas is based on the 1954 Paramount film that starred Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen; the original screenplay was by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama, and Melvin Frank.Many Berlin classics are showcased in this new production, including "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," " Sisters," "How Deep is the Ocean" and the title song. 

With a book by David Ives (All in the Timing) and Paul Blake, the Muny production will boast choreography by Kelli Barclay (based on the original of Randy Skinner).  Michael Anania (scenic design), David Lander (lighting design), Kansas City Costume (costume design), and Jason Krueger (sound design) will comprise the creative team; Michael Horsley will provide musical direction.

A cast recording featuring Brian D'Arcy James, Anastasia Barzee, Jeffry Denman and Meredith Patterson--the San Francisco world premiere cast--will be released by Ghostlight Records later this year.

Visit www.muny.org for more information.