Classic holiday stage musical includes additional Berlin songs from the Great American Songbook
Gateway Playhouse in Somers Point will bring everyone’s favorite holiday classic, Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas”—based on the famed Hollywood movie musical of the same name—to life Dec. 13-15 and 20-22.
Those running the show are no strangers to the Gateway. Director Chip Garrison and musical director Brian Conover wrote an original variation of “A Christmas Carol” that was staged there last year, and choreographer Karen Cleighton choreographed the Gateway’s recent production of “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Those familiar with the movie version of “White Christmas,” which far preceded the Broadway show (the movie came out in 1954; the musical came to Broadway in 2009), will notice similarities. The primary storyline features two army buddies, now in showbiz, who meet the Haynes sisters and wind up in Vermont, where they discover that their former World War II general has sunk his pension into the inn where they are staying. However, there are also some differences, namely, the lengthy “Choreography” scene made famous by Danny Kaye in the film is omitted from the stage version, and there are even more Irving Berlin songs from the Great American Songbook that have been added, such as “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” “How Deep Is the Ocean” and “Blue Skies.”
“’White Christmas’ is a classic–it’s all about nostalgia and having people feel good about the holidays. They didn’t mess with a good recipe for the staged version. It’s just a fun show,” said Garrison, who is a drama teacher at Absegami High School. “Even though it’s set in the post-World War II era, it still resonates with audiences because many had grandparents or other relatives in the war.”
Starring in “White Christmas” are the following:
- Spencer Lyons as Bob Wallace
- Johnny Keen as Phil Davis
- Allison McGinley as Betty Haynes
- Chloe Verderber as Judy Haynes—she is a math teacher at Galloway Township Middle School, where Conover teaches drama
- Former Broadway actress Karen Sutherland plays Martha Watson, the housekeeper at the inn, who has a larger role in the musical.
“We love working at the Gateway—there is such a wonderful, inviting group of people to work with,” said Conover. “We’ve had such positive feedback about this show already. It’s a classic that everyone loves.”
Performances for Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” are Dec. 13-15 and 20-22; 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with 2 p.m. matinees on Sundays. Snacks and beverages (sodas, wine, beer and cocktails) are available for purchase in the lobby. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at GatewayByTheBay.org or by calling the box office at 609-653-0553. Gateway Playhouse is located at 738 Bay Ave. in Somers Point, NJ. Go to GatewayByTheBay.org for more.
About Gateway Playhouse:
Since its reopening in 2017, Gateway Playhouse, a 501-(c)(3) nonprofit, has provided quality and affordable year-round entertainment to residents and visitors alike, as well as offered educational opportunities to grammar and high school students, in the hopes of creating future generations of actors, directors and audiences. Aside from an annual mainstage season, the Gateway also produces a variety of comedy and cabaret shows throughout the year. As the saying goes, “see you at the Gateway!”
