Live On Stage – Now thru December 22nd
Tickets at www.TheEllenTheatre.com
The Ellen Theatre continues its holiday production of the Irving Berlin hit musical White Christmas now until Tuesday, Deecember 22nd. First on Broadway in 2008, this adaptation of the family favorite film, back at The Ellen for the third time, features an all-singing, all-dancing cast of 25 talented performers. As in the movie, the story finds show biz’ entertainers Bob Wallace (Keith Krutchkoff) and Phil Davis (Todd Hoberecht) being detoured to Vermont with budding performers Betty and Judy Haynes (Val Andrews and Finn Ferguson). Once there, they discover their former WWII commanding officer turned innkeeper, General Waverly (George DeVries), is losing customers due to a lack of snow. Amelia Glover and Kynzi Adams have been tapped to play the young granddaughter Susan and will alternate performances. Also onboard for comic relief are local favorites Rhonda Smith as busybody housekeeper Martha Watson, Frank Simpson as Army buddy turned TV producer Ralph Sheldrake and Jay Winchester in a variety of roles including Jimmy the nightclub owner and laconic handyman Ezekiel Foster.
Presented by Montana TheatreWorks, producers of the recent Fiddler on the Roof, this promises to be the biggest Ellen show yet. The gifted cast is spotlighted in several numbers from the movie including Snow, The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing, Blue Skies, Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep and the title tune White Christmas. Added to the stage adaptation are the Berlin standards I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm, I Love a Piano, Happy Holidays and more, all accompanied by a live 20-piece orchestra, under the sterling musical direction of Michael Certalic. Choreographer Shari Watson and vocal director Frederick Frey fill the stage with terrific toe-tapping songs and dances, Tom Watson sets and Joel Jahnke’s lighting design beautifully recreate the movie and the entire production is under the helm of director Mary Jo Ludin.
Shows are Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the first two weeks in December, along with two bonus performances on Monday and Tuesday, December 21st and 22nd. All shows are at 7:30 PM, with the exception of Sunday matinees, which begin at 3:00 PM. Wine, beer, soda and other refreshments are available in The Ellen lobby starting one hour prior to show time. Reserved seats are $17.00, $19.75 and $29.50, depending on location, and may be purchased online at theellentheatre.com. A $1.00 Ellen Restoration Fund is added to each ticket and there is a $2.25 service fee for your entire order, no matter how many tickets are purchased. The Ellen holiday show always sells out, so it is recommended to secure tickets sooner than later. For questions or to purchase tickets over the phone, please call The Ellen box office at 585-5885.
