MANSFIELD, Ohio – The holiday season will start off merry and bright in Mansfield this weekend with the Renaissance Theatre’s performance of “White Christmas.”
Based on the classic 1954 movie starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen, “White Christmas” tells the story of singers Bob Wallace and Phil Davis joining sister act Betty and Judy Haynes for a holiday in Vermont.
“Through a series of misadventures these former servicemen end up at a Vermont inn that ends up being owned by their former general,” said director Michael Thomas. “Along the way they meet two young ladies, and they fall in love and out of love and in love again.”
For fans of the original film, Thomas said the storyline and characters of “White Christmas” on stage are exactly the same. The only minor difference is while only snippets of Irving Berlin’s well-known songs are shown in the movie, the full versions of the music are performed on stage.
“There’s also added music that’s not in the movie written by Irving Berlin,” said actor Brian Hupp, who plays Bob Wallace. “Some of those songs are cool to see how it’s incorporated in this story.”
The musical version includes many popular songs such as “Blue Skies,” “Sisters” and “White Christmas.”
“‘White Christmas’ is one of the most famous songs ever written, even if you’ve never seen the movie, just hearing that song and seeing it as part of the show I think will make it worth watching,” said Hupp.
Hupp stars opposite actress Maddie Beer, who plays Betty Haynes. She stated watching “White Christmas” was always a holiday tradition in the Beer household; she even has two Boston terriers named Bob and Phil.
“The music is like any Christmas song you hear and you’ve known it your entire life, but then to actually get to perform it you have to learn it in a different way to tell the story of the music,” said Beer. “And to see a live performance of it brings such a different aspect to the story; instead of watching it on the TV with that barrier, when you’re in the theater watching live people tell the story you’re more involved.”
Joining Hupp and Beer on stage are Ryan Shreve as Phil Davis and Madeline Carter as Judy Haynes, plus a supporting cast of 30 actors spanning all ages. Thomas said the cast includes students from many local high schools, including Clear Fork, Lexington, Ontario and Galion.
The biggest challenge presented to the cast was learning how to tap dance, said Thomas. Many cast members have dedicated their Saturdays for the past month to learning tap steps, taught by Carter, and choreography taught by Shannon Maloney.
“I think this is the best show Shannon has ever done here,” said Thomas. “Her choreography is amazing, and there’s a lot of it in the show, this is a heavier dancing show than we normally do. The kids have worked really hard on it.”
“White Christmas” will also feature one of the larger set pieces made at the Renaissance. Thomas said the giant “snow globe” piece was constructed of canvasses sewn together and painted, with pine trees carved out of foam insulation and a screen with projections in the back.
“All these things will happen within this snow globe world,” said Thomas.
And of course at the end of the show, when snow finally falls during an unseasonably warm winter in Vermont, snow will actually fall from the ceiling of the Renaissance stage. Thomas said it will be a perfect way to usher in the holiday season.
“For folks who know the show, it is pure nostalgia,” he said. “You hear these old songs again and they’re so well done, but to see it live on stage will really warm people’s hearts. It really is a lovely piece.”
Performances of “White Christmas” begin Saturday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2:30 p.m., Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 22 at 2:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Theatre. Tickets can be purchased at the Renaissance Box Office via phone at 419-522-2726 or online at MansfieldTickets.com.
