Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Irving Berlin’s White Christmas musical at The 5th Avenue Theatre complete with an audience singalong at the end. Starring Ashley Day & the rich-voiced Cayman Ilika. Showcasing a diverse repertoire of choreography in an old-timey glamour showbiz standards motif. #whiteChristmas
See it, especially if you’re looking for a standard Christmas show … with pop standards!
Synopsis from the Theatre: Based on the beloved, timeless film, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas comes just in time for the holiday season. After World War II, two veterans, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, begin a successful song and dance act, following two singing sisters to their Christmas gig at a Vermont resort lodge. With classic standards such as the titular hit, “Sisters,” “Snow,” “Blue Skies,” and “I Love a Piano,” White Christmas is a stirring and delightful musical that stands the test of time
Attended Performance Date: Opening Night 12/1/23 – See my previous preview posts here.
Type: Musical
World Premiere: No
Several or Few Scenes: Several
Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several
Static (Stationary) Set?: No
Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: No, but I wonder if you’d appreciate the show more if you saw the original film. I didn’t see the original film, but I enjoyed the live show.
Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes
Live Band/Orchestra: Yes
Equity Actors: All
Total Number of Actors: Too many to count
Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium Speed
Length (Including Any Intermission): 2.5 hours
Was there an intermission? Yes
Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show? Yes
Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now? Yes
Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned Above
- Music and Orchestra: From the NYC-like swinging jazzy overture hook, I knew the orchestra and score would be fabulous in this show.
- Choreography: This musical was heavy on dance. I was thrilled to discover that my favorite dance modality (tap dancing) filled this show. “Blue Skies” featured clean, tight choreography with a touch of Fosse. Additionally, the dancers in “I Love a Piano” showcased good dance synchronicity. There was also an earlier number in the first act with a little Latin flair.
- Rich Voices: Cayman Ilika (as Betty Haynes) has such a rich, developed voice with a slight transatlantic accent quality. It was immediately distinctly noticeable in her first number “Love and the Weather.” I also didn’t know that Candice Song Donehoo (as Martha Watson) could belt it until she sang “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy.” Unfortunately, her previous role in Cinderella didn’t allow her to show off her pipes like she could in White Christmas.
- Snow: Snow wasn’t isolated to just the stage. It also fell throughout the audience. They must spend a lot of time vacuuming after every performance!
- Favorite Lines:
- While holding her boobs, Betty said, “Am I lopsided?”
- “Put up a show in 5 days? Why not. They say God took a week.”
- “I told you to work on the second chorus, not the second chorus girl.”
- “I will just go to my dressing room and have a scene”
Rant(s)
- Theatre Temperature: Just like in The 5th Avenue Theatre’s December show last year The Wiz, the theatre was freezing! I overheard audience members behind me mention the same thing. I ended up wearing my wool coat and gloves during the performance. For tickets that can cost upwards of $200, I imagine one of the premium seats could pay the heating bill for one night!
Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)
- Holiday Inn: The premise in White Christmas is so similar to Holiday Inn that it’s almost lazy writing and I felt a little cheated. It’s akin to how Hallmark/Lifetime Christmas movies blatantly reuse the same old formula with a dash of weak plot conflict. That being said, I enjoyed both shows and I’d see either one again. Plus, I wouldn’t fault the musical’s book author too much since they were just basing the shows on the original films.
- Christmas Tree: Why was the Christmas tree moving during “Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)?” I kept wondering if someone would jump out for comic relief … which would have been leftfield for a touching scene!
- Zac Efron: Is it just me or does Ashley Day look like Zac Efron?
Theatre Company: The Fifth Avenue Theatre
Venue: The Fifth Avenue Theatre
Venue Physical Address: 1308 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
Price: Medium to Expensive
Tickets: https://www.5thavenue.org/shows/2023-2024/irving-berlin-s-white-christmas/
Ticket Affordability Options: The 5th Avenue Theatre often partners with organizations you’re affiliated with for discount tickets. For example, they sometimes offer a discount for my employer affiliation.
Dates: November 25 to December 24, 2023
Seating: Assigned Seating
Parking: When I don’t walk to the theatre or park on the street, I park in the paid garage at the Motif Hotel northwest of the theatre. The entrance is on 5th Ave. Do NOT park in the Hilton garage (entrance on 6th Ave). That’s where most of the audience (and I think the subscribers) parks, so it’s a nightmare to leave. However, the Hilton garage is the closest garage to the theatre and you can access the theatre through a tunnel if you want to avoid the elements. But, in my opinion, this benefit is not worth the time wasted leaving the garage.
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Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures under video and in video by Tracy Martin and Mark Kitaoka.
@showsiveseen @Irving Berlin's "White #Christmas" #musical at @The 5th Avenue Theatre complete with an audience singalong at the end. Starring Ashley Day & the rich-voiced @Cayman Ilika. Showcasing a diverse repertoire of choreography in an old-timey glamour showbiz standards motif. Review: showsiveseen.com/7598 #whiteChristmas #xmas #theatre #showsiveseen #irvingBerlin ♬ White Christmas – Michael Bublé
| Role | Name |
| Bob Wallace | Ashley Day |
| Phil Davis | Phillip Attmore |
| Ralph Sheldrake | Brandon O’Neill |
| General Henry Waverly | Reginald André Jackson |
| Ed Sullivan Announcer | Ty Willis |
| Tessie | Cristin J. Hubbard |
| Rita | Ania Briggs |
| Rhoda | Trina Mills |
| Jimmy | Eric Polani Jensen |
| Betty Haynes | Cayman Ilika |
| Judy Haynes | Taryn Darr |
| Quintet | Cristin J. Hubbard Eric Polani Jensen Charlie Johnson Trina Mills Brandon O’Neill |
| Train Conductor | John David Scott |
| Mr. Snoring Man | Ty Willis |
| Mrs. Snoring Man | Cristin J. Hubbard |
| Martha Watson | Candice Song Donehoo |
| Susan Waverly | Beatrice Cramer, Gia Pellegrini |
| Ezekiel | Sean G. Griffin |
| Mike | Ty Willis |
| Regency Room Dancers | Davione Gordon Charlie Johnson Rico Lastrapes Jonathan Luke Stevens |
| Ensemble | Ania Briggs Kristin Burch Davione Gordon Cristin J. Hubbard Eric Polani Jensen, Charlie Johnson Ashley Lanyon Rico Lastrapes Trina Mills Richard Peacock John David Scott Jonathan Luke Stevens Katy Tabb Jaclyn Wheatley Carolyn Willems Van Dijk Shelby Willis |
| Bob Wallace Underestudy | Michael Sharon |
| Phil Davis Understudy | Cayel Tregeagle |
| General Henry Waverly Understudy | Ty Willis |
| Ralph Understudy | John David Scott |
| Betty Haynes Understudy | Miranda Antoinette |
| Judy Haynes Understudy | Mallory Cooney King |
| Mr. Snoring Man/Mike/Ed Sullivan Announcer/Ezekiel Understudy | Erlc Polani Jensen |
| Mrs. Snoring Man/Tessie/Quintet Understudy | Ann Cornelius |
| Martha Watson Understudy | Cristin J Hubbard |
| Swings | Maggie Darago Jordan King Katie Marshall Christopher Sweet |
| Dance Captain | Maggie Darago |
| — | — |
| Conductor | Beth Grimmett-Tankersley |
| Keyboard 1 | Dwight Beckmeyer |
| Keyboard 2 | Rebecca Smith |
| Bass | Todd Gowers |
| Drums | Alec Wilmart |
| Horn | Jill Jaques |
| Trumpet 1 | Brad Allison |
| Trumpet 2 | Richard Titterington |
| Trumpet 3 | Michael Van Bebber |
| Trombone 1 | Dan Marcus |
| Trombone 2 | Keith Winkle |
| Trombone 3 | Antonio Portela |
| Percussion | Paul Hansen |
| Reed 1 | Dane Andersen |
| Reed 2 | Jory Tindall |
| Reed 3 | Derek Smith |
| Reed 4 | Lori Shepard |
| Reed 5 | Jay Easton |
| Violin | Lynn Bartlett-Johnson |
| Cello | Christine Lee |
| Keyboard Coordinator | Michael Matlock |
| Music Assistant | Andrew Pang |
| Rehearsal Pianist | Dwight Beckmeyer |
| Rehearsal Drummer | Alec Wilmart |
| — | — |
| Directors | James A Roco and David Armstrong |
| Choreographer | James A. Rocco |
| Music Director | Matt Perri |
| Producing Partner | Marleen And Kenny Alhadeff |
| Composer and Lyricist | Irving Berlin |
| Orchestrations | Larry Blank |
| Authors | David Ives and Paul Blake |
| Vocal and Dance Arranger | Bruce Pomahac |
| Scenic Designer | Anna Louizos |
| Associate Director | Jimmy Shields |
| Costume Coordinator | Heidi Zamora |
| Director of Production | Joan Toggenburger |
| Costume Designer | Carrie Robbins |
| Associate Music Director/Conductor | Beth Grimmett-Tankersley |
| Costume Associate | Danielle Nieves |
| Production Manager | Ryan Gastelum |
| Lighting Designer | Heather Gilbert |
| Associate Choreographer | Maggie Darago |
| Associate Lighting Designer | Thorn Michaels |
| Technical Director | Mathew Carleton |
| Sound Designer | Haley Parcher |
| N.Y. Casting Director | Stephanie Klapper |
| Associate Sound Designer | Liam Steckler |
| Costume, Wardrobe, & Hair Director | Shannin Strom |
| Hair/Wig & Makeup Designer | Kelley Jordan |
| Seattle Casting Director | Brodrick Santeze Ryans |
| Assistant Hair/Wig & Makeup Designer | Juliette Lewis |
| Production Stage Manager | JR Welden |
| Assistant Stage Managers | Jamie J. Kranz Erin B. Zatloka |
| Swing Stage Manager | Jeffrey K. Hanson |
| Producing Artistic Director | Bill Berry |
| Managing Director | Katie Maltais |
| Production Assistant | Larcyn Burnett |
| Child Actor Guardian | Amy Jurkiewicz |
