Diablo Theatre Company Presents WHITE CHRISTMAS 11/26

Diablo Theatre Company will launch the holiday season with the East Bay premiere of "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" in a fully-staged sparkling production that will run for eight performances beginning Nov. 26 at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek.

Performances, including three matinees, will continue through Dec 4. Tickets, $20-$42, are on sale at the center, 1601 Civic Drive, 926.943-7469, www.lesherartscenter.com.

Diablo Theatre Company will stage the tune-filled show, snowfalls and all, with a full orchestra and cast of 28. Besides the classic title song, the show includes such familiar Berlin hits as "Blue Skies," "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," "I Love a Piano" and "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm."

The musical premiered in San Francisco in 2004 before opening on Broadway and later touring cities across the country. It is based on the 1954 Paramount Pictures movie that starred Bing Crosby as Bob Wallace, Danny Kaye as Phil Davis, Rosemary Clooney as Betty Haynes and Vera-Ellen as Judy Haynes.

Their roles in the Diablo Theatre Company production will be played, respectively, by Jeffrey Adams, Stephen Perez, Alicia Teeter, and Sharon Rietkirk.

Adams has been performing in the Bay Area since age eight and has appeared in plays and musicals at the Lyric and Brava theatres. Perez has been a familiar face to audiences at Broadway by the Bay, where he has performed in many musicals, including "Funny Girl," "Singin' in the Rain," and "The Wizard of Oz."

Teeter has appeared in "Chicago" at the Hillbarn Theatre, "Urinetown" and "Pippin" at the Foothill Music Theatre, and "Little Women" and "The Sound of Music" at the Woodland Opera House. Reitkerk has performed with the Center REPertory Company, Lamplighters Musical Theatre, and Contra Costa Civic Theatre. She recently starred in Diablo Theatre Company's production of "Curtains."

Marilyn Langbehn will direct the show. Since arriving in the Bay Area in 2004, she has directed numerous productions, including "Driving Miss Daisy," "Gypsy," "Rabbit Hole," and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Her daytime job is marketing and public relations manager for California Shakespeare Theater.

G. Scott Lacy will conduct the Diablo Theatre Company orchestra. Suzanne Brandt is the choreographer.

Diablo Theatre Company is one of a comparatively few regional theatre companies permitted to produce the show, according to Daren A. C. Carollo, artistic director.

The New York Post described the show as "a holiday card come to life."

###

THE CAST

Principals: Jeffrey Adams (Bob Wallace), Stephen Perez (Phil Davis), Alicia Teeter (Betty Haynes), Sharon Rietkerk (Judy Haynes), James Coniglio (Ezekiel Foster), Stephen Foreman (Mike Nutty), Dan Cawthon (General Henry Waverly), Lauren McNutt (Susan Waverly), Nancy Sale (Martha Watson), Christopher M Nelson (Ralph Sheldrake), Marcella Newton (Rita/Rhoda/Ensemble), Mary Kalita
(Rita/Rhoda/Ensemble), Cindy Im (Tessie, Seamstress), Dustin Riggs
(Mr. Snoring Man/Ensemble), Kerry Chapman (Mrs. Snoring Man, Asst.Seamstress/Ensemble), Alex Acevedo (character called Dance Captain/Ensemble), Greg Lynch (Train Conductor/Ensemble),
Ensemble: Dane Paul Andres, Carolyn August, Alana Buschini,
Kristin Butler, Maggie Connard, Larry Crummer, Daniel Schultz,
Brian Sterling, Sara Sweet, Indy Tan, Amelia Zack.

If You Go

WHAT: Diablo Theatre Company's production of "Irving Berlin's White Christmas," music and lyrics by Irving Berlin; book by David Ives
WHEN: 8 p.m. Nov. 26, 27,Dec. 3, 4; 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28; 2:30 p.m. Nov. 27, 28,
Dec. 4
WHERE: Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek
RUNNING TIME: 2 hours, 15 minutes, one intermission
TICKETS: $20-$42 (925) 943-7469; www.lesherartscenter.org, www.diablotheatrecompany.org