White Christmas

THEATRE UNDER THE STARS
www.TUTS.com
Frank M. Young, Founder and Producing Artistic Director
John C. Breckenridge, President and CEO

PRESENTS

Irving Berlin's

WHITE CHRISTMAS

The Musical

Based upon the Paramount Pictures film written for the screen by Norman Krasna, Norman Panama and Melvin Frank

December 4 - 21, 2008
Hobby Center for the Performing Arts

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) brings Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS to the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts December 4 - 21, 2008. TUTS is located at 800 Bagby & Walker, Houston Texas. Photo by Bruce Bartlett.

Count your Blessings Houston…..your White Christmas is here!!!

By Theresa Pisula
Theresa@HoustonTheatre.com
December 6, 2008

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
to hear sleigh bells in the snow

Well dream no more Houston!!! Your White Christmas is currently playing at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts downtown. Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is proudly producing the classic holiday story and brand NEW musical, WHITE CHRISTMAS from December 4-21, 2008. My mother and I went to the performance on the evening of December 6, 2008 so we may delight in the enchanting lyrics of Irving Berlin and to experience the rare snowfall in Houston, Texas during this magical time of year.

I took my mother with me to the show that night especially because it is her birthday. You see, my mom Portia Del Castillo Tello was born on December 7, 1941. Yes, she was born the same exact day of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. She grew up in the Philippines during the war torn years of WWII. The opening scene of WHITE CHRISTMAS is a Christmas eve party troop celebration at the 151^st Division of the U. S. Army in 1944. Bob Wallace, Phil Davis and Ralph Sheldrake were putting on a small show to entertain the soldiers during a time when they were all missing their friends and families back home.

Happy Holidays

Happy holiday, happy holiday
While the merry bells keep ringing
May your ev'ry wish come true

Happy holiday, happy holiday
May the calendar keep bringing
Happy holidays to you

As we listened to the beautiful lyrics and melodies it took my mother back to the old days, back to a much simpler time. Each Irving Berlin song opened up a flood gate of memories. She told us stories of a time in the 1950’s when she was still in high school. She distinctly remembers her father playing the old 78s records of Irving Berlin albums. “What?” I asked, “Is that like a CD or an MP3?” She explains that this was waaaay before my time. Even before the 33s and the 45s vinyl records of her time.

Let yourself go by Irving Berlin
As you listen to the band don’t you get a bubble?

As you listen to them play don’t you get a glow?

 If you step out on the floor

You’ll forget your trouble

If you go into your dance

You’ll forget your woe

So,

Come

Get together

Let the dance floor feel your leather

Step as lightly as a feather

Let yourself go

But despite those difficult times during World War II after 1941, my mother considers her childhood as being pretty normal. At times during the show, she would become teary eyed at the recollection of experiences when she used to hear these songs. My mother would hum to the tune of the music and sing the simple and happy lyrics as Irving Berlin reminded us to Count Your Blessings.

Count Your Blessings by Irving Berlin

When I'm worried and I can't sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep
And I fall asleep
Counting my blessings

When my bankroll is getting small
I think of when I had none at all
And I fall asleep
Counting my blessings

This message is especially significant during these present times of rising unemployment and economic instability. White Christmas will lift up your spirits and freshen up your perspective in these trying times of 2008. The first act is simply spectacular and as the second act rolls, it gets even better. You will be caught spellbound as the cast of characters tap dance and sing their way around in the most colorful costumes. For the show, the men are wearing neon green suits and the ladies in polka-dot white and pink A-line skirts. This was a time of the Ed Sullivan Show when the ladies were wearing petticoats to accentuate their figure. And the fashion was electric pleated skirts and short shorts during show rehearsals.

Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS. Photo by Bruce Bartlett.

Love And The Weather by Irving Berlin

Unpredictable, irresponsible
Unbelievable, unreliable
Ever since the world began
Are Cupid and the weather man

Love and the weather, birds of a feather
Can't be depended upon
One day it's sunny, next day the sunshine has gone

Love and the weather, always together
Planning another surprise
Bringing the raindrops just like the tears to your eyes

Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS. Photo by Bruce Bartlett.

You will be enchanted by several musical numbers such as “I Love A Piano”, “Falling Out of Love Can Be Fun”, “Sisters”, “Let Me Sing And I’m Happy”. And as Bob & Company sing “White Christmas” and as you view the lavish sets and colorful costumes, your breath will be taken away as it starts to snow onstage. Of course, we already knew this was going to happen. But seeing the snow fall for real and as you listen to the Christmas music you are mesmerized into a type of Christmas trance that only TUTS magic can bring. The terrific orchestra conducted by Jeff Rizzo definitely creates some of the most memorable parts of the evening.

And then…..quite suddenly…..it starts to snow…..not just onstage, but on where the audience are seated. I marveled at this magical event with my gaping mouth wide open. I did not want to blink my eyes for a second as I tried to catch each snow flake glittering brightly against the dark of the night. As you look around and the snow slowly starts to fall, you realize that you are still indoors, inside the building of the Hobby Center. What makes White Christmas so unique is the fact that each and everyone in the TUTS packed theater house is sharing this special moment with you.

Do not miss Theatre Under The Stars “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” this holiday season. If you can, remember to take pictures of your loved ones before and after the show. White Christmas will be one memorable Christmas holiday event you can share with your family and friends and re-visit with them every year this time around.

White Christmas
by Irving Berlin

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
to hear sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas,
with every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright,
and may all your Christmases be white

-0-0-0-0-0-

Theatre Under The Stars Brings “Irving Berlin's White Christmas" to The Hobby Center

December 4 – 21, 2008 Snow-body Should Miss It!

HOUSTON, TEXAS… Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is proudly producing the classic holiday story and brand NEW holiday musical, WHITE CHRISTMAS, December 4-21, 2008 at the Hobby Center for The Performing Arts in downtown Houston. The all-time number one pop song and most-recorded tune in history inspired first a beloved classic film, and now a brand-new, splashy family musical…as rare as Texas snow.

TUTS’ dazzling production of Irving Berlin’s WHITE CHRISTMAS is part of the 2008-2009 “Wow! What a Season.” offering of fresh new shows. The musical is based on the 1954 movie, “White Christmas” starring Danny Kaye and Bing Crosby, who play war-buddies turned vaudeville showmen. The plot thickens when they meet two song-bird sisters and romantic antics ensue. The story climaxes when the stars host a musical review in honor of their retired Army captain, drawing the audience into a richly choreographed musical number commemorating the troops’ gratitude. With a cast of 32, nearly two-dozen musicians, elaborate staging, choreography and costumes, the show is a true spectacle. No production of White Christmas would be complete without snow and TUTS’ production does not disappoint: snow will fall throughout the Sarofim Hall onto theater-goers below! White Christmas also serves as the perfect framework for the presentation of Berlin’s hit songs “Blue Skies,” “Count Your Blessings” and the title song, “White Christmas.”

In the conjunction with Art For Soldiers, Theatre Under The Stars features holiday card and artwork making stations in the lobby at each show, providing youngsters and families the opportunity to create unique artwork to be mailed to veterans and soldiers. Additionally, to help audiences get into the holiday mood, “White Christmas,” the movie, will be showing free to the public at Discovery Green at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving evening.

Tickets for TUTS' production of White Christmas ($34-$95.50) are available to the public by phone at (713) 558-8887 or outside the Houston area at (888) 558-3882; or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars Box Office, (800 Bagby at Walker, Mon-Fri 9a.m.-6p.m, Sat-Sun 11a.m.-4p.m.); or on-line at www.tuts.com. An audio described performance is available December 14 at 2 p.m.; open captioning December 14 at 7:30p.m. The Hobby Center is wheelchair accessible. Student and senior (60+) discount tickets are available one hour before performance at the box office only. In keeping with the military theme of White Christmas, military families receive a discount at the box office with their military IDs one hour before each performance. Group discounts available for 15 or more and may be purchased by calling (713) 558-8888 or via email at groupsales@tuts.com.

Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS. Photo by Bruce Bartlett.

The TUTS 2008-2009 season is sponsored by Continental Airlines, Spectra Energy, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System. Sponsors of the TUTS production of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas include the ConocoPhilips, Total and the URS Corporation.

Founded in 1968, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is Houston's acclaimed non-profit musical theatre company and is currently under the direction of President and CEO John C. Breckenridge. Dedicated to producing new works and classic masterpieces, the 2008-2009 "Wow! What a Season." celebrates TUTS’ 41st Season of bringing world-class musical theatre to Houston audiences. TUTS was the first theatrical organization in Houston to perform free to the public in 1968 at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park, and is the only Houston arts organization that has performed there free to the public every year since the building opened. Since its founding by Frank M. Young, TUTS has produced more than 300 musicals including many local, national and world premieres such as Disney's Beauty and the Beast, as well as International tours including Debbie Reynolds in The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Juliet Prowse in Mame, Robert Goulet in Man of La Mancha, the Tony Award-winning revival of Carousel and
the Deaf West Theatre production of Big River. As a way to continue the tradition of musical theatre, TUTS'

Humphreys School of Musical Theatre provides instruction and stage experience for more than 1,700 students annually through both The Academy and The Studio, which allow students to flourish in a year-round schedule of classes. Housed in the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, TUTS also annually presents the Tommy Tune Awards, honoring the best and brightest in Houston's high school musical theatre programs.
For more information visit www.TUTS.com