Irving Berlin’s holiday classic, “White Christmas” will come to life on The Elbert Theatre stage for the first weekend of performances Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.
Directed by Sam Brown and Associate Director Erik Frye, the show follows former soldiers and “popular song and dance duo” Bob Wallace (played by Virgil Hobbs) and Phil Davis (played by Sam Brown) and “singing sisters,” Betty (played by Tanya Stelter) and Judy Haynes (played by Bree Brown) up to The Columbia Inn in Vermont.
The Elbert Theatre stage performances will be the second time Sam and Frye have performed the show together as they both premiered in a past performance at the Hart County Community Theatre in Hartwell.
“It was really well-recieved when we did it in Hartwell,” Sam said Monday night before a rehearsal. “Doing it down here, it’s a bigger stage, more people. It’s just a good holiday show to do.”
A classic Christmas movie, Sam said they have tried to keep favorite aspects while also adding their own touch to the performances.
“It’s hard doing something based off of a movie that’s so well-known – trying to keep similarities yet still make it our own,” Sam said. “[We’re] able to do similar things with costumes and hair and the way lines are phrased.”
The cast also includes Ken Little as General Henry Waverly, Paula McClure as Martha Watson, Seeley Stlter as Susan Waverly, Patrick Anderson as Ralph Sheldrake, Rendarris Gaines as Mike Nulty, Dee Teasley as Rita and Samantha Campbell as Rhoda.
Dessie Lee Santiago, Hannah Carey, Cole Peace, Lizzie Mearkle, Isabel Cruz, Madison Turner, Seth Baggott, Annabelle Anderson, Stefanie Anderson and Kinnsley Anderson serve as ensemble members while Conley Chatham and Frye serve as dance captains.
The show will include both tap and ballroom-style dancing, which Frye said he has been involved in for the past five to six years through different performances.
Sam said the performance includes at least three different tap numbers, more than double the amount usually seen in a show, and over 16 songs.
Performances will be held Friday, Dec. 2 through Sunday, Dec. 4 and Friday, Dec. 9 through Sunday, Dec. 11.
Friday and Saturday performances will be held at 7 p.m. while Sunday performances will be at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $11 in advance, $16 at the door and $9 for students. Tickets are available by emailing Toni King at tking@cityofelberton.net or by calling The Elbert Theatre box office at 706-283-1049.
“It’s like a little Hallmark card, wrapped together with a pretty little bow,” Sam said. “All the costumes and the singing and all the dancing. It’s very uplifting for the time of year. This is different from musicals we’ve done before. I feel like we’ve tried to stay true to that time period. It’s good for the whole family to sit and enjoy. Even the little kids will be entertained with so much going on the whole time.”