White Christmas

I know Meredith Patterson is doing LA.

I'm an ensemble swing for the LA cast. I know most of the LA male ensemble is from LA.

There's not been much talk of casting decisions yet. I know SF goes into rehearsal Monday. LA and Boston start on the 17th of October.

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I searched and couldn't find anything. It just sent me to Woman in White....sorry. :)

Anyway...I heard Meredith Paterson was doing it too. I love her dancing! I wish I could see it.

Did anyone see the original production in SF?

i'll give a full report when we start rehearsals. i'm sooo excited...i can barely wait the 16 days i have left.

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see...that's what i mean by some of the people on this board. just hateful. obviously...if there's a double post about something, just don't look at it.

we need miss manners to come in a give a few lessons in how to be a little more polite.

i, by no means am a saint, however, i do try to think twice about my words before i post.

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Hi theatergirlie! I saw this show in SF last year (fiv e times total) and LOVED it in a big way. Here's my original review from last November and I can't recommend this show enough. I am bummed we are not getting the same cast as last year (Denamn, D'Arcy, Patterson and Barzee), but am looking forward to seeing it again!
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(original review)

I am in SF and saw this show for the SECOND time already last night. It's the best I've seen in 5 years here in SF and I see everything! A friend of mine and I went on opening night Nov 9th and we were floored with the sets, dancing, singing, etc.

Specifics:

Walter Bobbie is to be congratulated. This man took a 50's movie, developed the best parts into key scenes, then added Irving Berlin songs from other shows to enhance the show. And enhance is not saying enough. From the opening number to the surprise curtain call, the tone of the show was perfect. An ode to the 1950's without mocking tones at all. While waiting for the few dancers we knew at the Stage door, I glimpsed the man himself and was actually speechless! I cannot commend this director enough.

Skinner -this choreographer is fantastic. I only heard of him in connection with 42nd street and had no idea just how talented he is! The Blue Skies and I love a Piano tap numbers were designed to impress and managed to blow everyone away! 15+ tappers in the dance numbers, fluid motion, wonderful tap mikes, and skilled dancers made the audience feel like they had been transported back to the "golden age" when dancing was key to a show! Jeffry Denman and Meredith Patterson were well suited to each other and their partnering for "The Best things Happen when your dancing" and " I love a Piano" made me feel like I was watching Fred and Ginger. They were fluid and made me hold my breath while watching.

Actors -D'arcy James, Patterson, Denman and Barzee were all top notch. I was especially enamored by the Denman and Patterson coupling however. Brian's voice is smooth and even and he crooned two of the love songs beautifully. Barzee has a torch song in the second act, "Love, You didn't do right by me", which she carries off well with D'Arcy James coming in to sing his "How deep is the Ocean" along with it. Beautiful. The little girl Raquel was good, not overused and overcute. Just enough to enjoy. She has one small dance number, and that's just enough! The character leads were great as well. All of the supporting cast were enjoyable to watch. My friend knew 3 of them (he is a bay area regional theater guy and auditions with them all the time) and getting to talk to them after opening night was a treat. They loved working with Bobbie, and said the injuries from the tap numbers were worth the trouble.

Sets: I was floored by the sets. I came in thinking I would see some type of "pre broadway" sets, a couple of scrims and the like. NO WAY. There was a full "Vermont inn" setpiece that somehow rotated backstage to have a front porch area and lobby area. It was fantastic! A real 50's feel to the whole set design, with a bar scene with those curved booths to the Ed Sullivan show stage. The costumes were beautiful! A lot of blues and some greet lime green suits on the two male leads in the early scenes of the show. The end of the show has the whole red white costume theme and those costumes were gorgeous as well.

I almost forgot! They make it "snow" in the audience at the end and it was not over the top and looked gorgeous coming down as the singers ended the show with "I've got my love to keep me warm". It looked like a Xmas card, I swear!

Whew!

I am trying to think of anything I didn't like... The Opening was ok, with the two male leads singing in the army on Christmas day, then it goes to 10 years later, and they are famous on the Ed Sullivan show. The "Happy Holidays/Get Together" number really revs up the whole show, and, at least on opening night, the applause for the major dance numbers stopped the show twice.

I cannot say enough about Mr. Bobbie. He looked happy as he left the Curran on opening night! This man has yet to fail me. I can't wait for Sweet Charity now!

Sorry this is so long...I actually joined the board so I could post! I hate when shows like this are just mentioned barely on this board, and Wicked and Brooklyn have 80 threads a day!!

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