White Christmas, a singing and dancing extravaganza, is coming to Upper St. Clair High School!
Highlighting the best of Irving Berlin’s lively career as a composer, White Christmas includes
songs such as “Happy Holidays / Let Yourself Go,” “Sisters,” “Snow,”
“Let Me Sing and I’m Happy,” “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,”
“Blue Skies,” and of course, “White Christmas!” The annual spring
musical is performed over the first two weekends in March: Friday and
Saturday, March 4, 5, 11, and 12 at 7:30 p.m., Sunday, March 6 at 2:00
p.m., and Thursday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the USC High School
Theatre.
When White Christmas opens,
the setting is somewhere on the Western Front of World War II,
Christmas Eve, 1944. General Bob Wallace (Chase Banton and Turner Queen)
and Captain Phil Davis (Ben Nadler) are serenading the troops,
attempting to boost the morale. The next scene jumps to 1954, post-war.
Having left the Army following WWII, the two vets team up to become a
top song-and-dance act. Davis plays matchmaker and introduces Wallace to
a pair of beautiful sisters, Betty Haynes (Maggie Connors and Carly
DeCock) and Judy Haynes (Emily Delulius and Sarah Rubino) who happen to
also have a song-and-dance act. When Betty and Judy travel to a Vermont
lodge to perform a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to
find their former commander, General Waverly (Mor Shimshi and Phil
Warmbein), is the lodge owner. A series of romantic mix-ups ensue as the
performers try to help the General.
Providing
overall guidance to the 200+ student company and Theatre Angels (adult
volunteers) are Coordinating Producer Jane Dodd, Producing Artistic
Director Tom Hunsberger, Technical Producer Michael Binkley, Drama
Director J.R. Hall, Choral/Vocal Director Lorraine Milovac, Music
Director Don Pickell, and Choreographers Shari Opfermann and Katie
Boyle, along with the extraordinary talent, hard work, and dedication of
Musical Technical Director Terry Willard, Stage Manager Chuck Dodd,
Scenery Painting Director Mary Beth Werner, Costume Designer Jessica
Kavanagh, Hair and Make-up Artist Debi Blazek, Set Carpenter Brian
Butler, Program/Advertising Coordinator Sara Payo, and Box Office
Coordinator Joyce Vance.
For
every adult position, there is at least one student “running the show”
behind-the-scenes. The leadership team includes Student Director Alexa
Rieger, Rehearsal Assistants Amanda Mittleman, Allie Ryave, and Anna
Waters, Student Producer Zachary Heckler, Assistant Student Producer Mia
Taylor, Costume Designers Elizabeth McDonough and Abby Riemer, Props
Manager Melissa Levine, Make-up Head Cassie Wangler, Pit Orchestra Heads
David Corbin and Maura Flaherty, Dance Captain Emily McFerran, House
Manager CJ Stott, and Student Technical Director Thomas Bednarz.
Opportunities
exist for local businesses to advertise and become show sponsors and
underwriters, for this and all remaining musicals held at the USC HS and
Boyce theaters in 2016. Please contact Michael Binkley at 412-833-1600,
extension 2699, for more information or if your company or association
would be interested in enhancing its image within the community by
earning promotional limelight.
Reserved-seat
admissions are available for sale to the General Public beginning on
February 22 at 10:30 a.m. After this time, the Box Office hours are
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday mornings from 10:30 a.m. to
noon, and Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Tickets will also be sold from 10:30 a.m. to noon on all performance
dates and one hour prior to the start of each show. The Box Office is
located in the Arts’ Lobby of the Upper St. Clair High School, adjacent
to the USCHS Theatre. (Please use the main parking lot/center archway
entrance).
After
February 1, feel free to call 412-851-2060 (Music Activity Hotline), or
visit usctheater.org for details on ticket pricing, parking
accommodations, and other information. A unique tradition of USC HS
spring musicals, senior citizens who reside in Upper St. Clair (with a
valid ID – Gold Card, Silver Card or drivers’ license) will receive up
to two complimentary admissions. Since all seats are reserved and
tickets are limited, sell-out shows are likely. Please support the Upper
St. Clair School District Performing Arts, visit the Box Office in
person, and purchase your tickets early!