‘White Christmas the Musical’ @ Grand Prairie Arts Council

—Jan Farrington

I still have lots of Christmas shopping to do—and two dozen folks coming to dinner on the day. That’s by way of telling you this is going to be a quick, enthusiastic review for a show you’ll need to catch fast.

That would be Grand Prairie Arts Council’s live-wire production of Itving Berlin’s White Christmas at the vintage Uptown Theatre. It opened December 8; it closes December 17. If you enjoy a classic American musical—and a full charge of the “Happy Holidays” spirit—this might be your happy place.

Let’s start with an observation: the 1954 movie with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera Ellen (nobody living ever looked more like Barbie) is plenty fun. But who knew that what this Irving Berlin movie musical really needed…was more Irving Berlin.

For the 2000 stage musical, creators David Ives and Paul Blake freshened the story a bit (but not too much), and imported a cluster of Berlin numbers from other musicals and movies. All your fave songs are there: “Happy Holidays,” “Sisters,” “Count Your Blessings,” and of course “White Christmas.” But now, there’s also “Let Yourself Go,” “How Deep is the Ocean?,” “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,” the wonderful “I Love a Piano,” and the jazzy “Blue Skies.” Irving Berlin wasn’t called “America’s songwriter” for nothing.

As army buddies turned Broadway stars (it’s still set in the early ‘50s, not long after WWII), Bob Wallace (Adam Seirafi) and Phil Davis (Ashton Lewis) get a note from a friend from their time in the 151st infantry regiment—asking them to drop in on his “Sisters” and their nightclub act as a favor. Phil is immediately head-over-heels for Judy (Meghan MacLellan), and Bob thinks Betty (Olivia Goodspeed) is pretty cute too—though the two start fighting within minutes.

All four performers are engaging, with strong singing voices and dance skills, fun comic timing, and a nice chemistry that evolves quickly between the two couples. Lewis and MacLellan are terrific in several dance numbers (“The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing,” and “I Love a Piano” among them), and Seirafi and Goodspeed are especially fine in numbers that become duets (beautiful harmonies on “Count Your Blessings,” and in the romantic scene that pairs “Love, You Didn’t Do Right By Me” with “How Deep is the Ocean.”) That scene actually improves on the movie, I think.

And the first-act closer, a great, swinging “Blue Skies,” shows off everyone in the cast, including the diverse and energetic ensemble.

GPAC artistic director Michelle Phillips directs it all, and (as costume designer) outfits everybody in fine Fifties style—the Haynes Sisters’ dresses are lovely. The shows’ two choreographers, Teil Dow and Mandy Sanders, bring out the best—and play two comic side charactrers, Rita and Roda.

Matt Betz’s set design is simple and nicely moveable, and both lighting (Holli Price) and projections (Leslie Navarro) add life and energy. Musical director Tracy Carroll gets props for quality singing all around, keeping track of the virtual score (and “accompaniment” on parts of it, too. And Ryan Brazil’s sound is clear as a bell.

Even with the strong foursome in the main roles, there are standouts in the supporting cast. Retired general Henry Waverly (Kelley Garland), who needs help from Bob and Bill but would never ask, blusters and comes around in the end. He and Martha (Rachale Ramos Roach), his sidekick in running a Vermont inn, are constantly at odds—until she discovers show-biz…again. Emilly Cedeno (alternating with Kynlie Moore) is sweet at the general’s granddaughter. Chris Medina plays Ralph, a connection to The Ed Sullivan Show who helps make good stuff happen. And Damian Castillejo is jittery, jumpy stage manager Jimmy, who barely survives putting on a Christmas show in a barn.

Kudos to the whole cast, and to GPAC’s super-supportive audience. May your days be merry and bright —and may all White Christmases be this much fun.

WHEN: December 8-17, 2023
WHERE: Uptown Theater, 116 East Main Street, Grand Prairie TX
WEB: artsgp.org