Curtain Call: White Christmas: The Musical

Southern Illinois audiences can once again relive one of the most enduring of all American holiday treasures as the Paradise Alley Players present the Irving Berlin film and stage classic White Christmas: The Musical December 3, 4, and 5 at the Marion Cultural and Civic Center.

Based on the classic 1954 Paramount Pictures movie starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, and Rosemary Clooney, White Christmas: The Musical features the immortal music and lyrics of Irving Berlin, with a script by David Ives and Paul Blake. The Paradise Alley Players' production, directed by troupe veteran Deborah Runion, holds the unique distinction of being the first licensed production of the holiday classic presented by a community theater, and the show is presented for the first time in Southern Illinois. With a local cast of more than fifty, White Christmas: The Musical makes the perfect pre-holiday treat for anyone who loves both movies or musicals, or anyone searching for a taste of the holiday season of an America gone by.

White Christmas: The Musical premiered before stage audiences in San Francisco in 2004. In 2009, White Christmas, featuring Irving Berlin's original, full Academy Award-winning film score, which included "White Christmas," "Happy Holiday," and "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing," opened at Manhattan's Marquis Theatre, and won two Tony nominations.

Like its film predecessor, the stage adaptation tells the story of World War II army buddies Bob Wallace and Phil Davis who, after being discharged from the Army, parlay their love of music into becoming one of the most successful song-and-dance teams of the American post-War era. Fate and professional engagements eventually bring the pair to cross paths with the beautiful and talented Haynes sisters, Betty and Judy, who have also embarked on careers as performing singers and dancers. It is love at first sight for Bob and Betty, and the two hopeful teams agree to travel to Vermont to perform a benefit holiday show for a financially doomed country lodge owned and operated by General Waverly, Bob and Phil's former commanding officer.

When Betty discovers that Bob and Phil have a connection to the general, her feelings for Bob are tainted, because she fears that the pair are simply using her and Judy and taking advantage of the general's precarious financial position to generate publicity for their own careers. Betty flees for New York to get away from Bob. Fearing that her alienation from Bob is based on an obligation to look after her younger sister, Judy pretends to become engaged to Phil to relieve Betty of her feelings of responsibility and free her to marry Bob. Meanwhile, fearing that his lodge will indeed have to close, General Waverly attempts to resurrect his military career by making a failed bid to rejoin the Army. When Uncle Sam denies him, the broken-hearted General returns to the lodge. In an attempt to generate publicity for the show, Bob heads for the Big Apple, not knowing that Betty is there, and goes on national television to make a plea for the men and women of his and Phil's war division to join him and Phil for the big show on Christmas Eve.

Evening performances of the Paradise Alley Players' production of White Christmas: The Musical begin at 7:30 p.m., and the Sunday matinee starts at 2 p.m. For more information about the show or troupe, log on to <http://www.MarionPAP.com>. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children at evening performances, and tickets for the Sunday afternoon matinee are $12 for adults and $10 for children. Tickets are available by phone at (618) 997-4030 and online at <http://www.MarionCCC.org>.

who: Paradise Alley Players

what: White Christmas: The Musical (live theater)

where: Marion Cultural and Civic Center

when: Friday through Sunday, December 3 through December 5