**What is “White Christmas”? Why is it all over the school? Why should you go see it?**
“White Christmas” is an old 1950s film about singers Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye), who join sister act Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy Haynes (Vera-Ellen) to perform a Christmas show in rural Vermont. There, they run into Gen. Waverly (Dean Jagger), their commander from World War II, and learn that he is facing financial difficulties because his quaint country inn is struggling. So, the foursome decides to plan a yuletide miracle: a fun-filled musical extravaganza that’s sure to put Waverly and his business back in the black!
This year, our school’s theater is transforming the classic film “White Christmas” into a musical. I am one of many participants in this performance, and I can confidently say it’s going to be a blast! We have been practicing every single day since September to make this musical a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
This is our cast of the musical!
Here’s a little insight into what we’ve been doing. Every day, we practice choreography for a 1950s vibe, featuring lots of tap dancing, singing, and acting. Many of us are new to some of the dances, so we’ve all been helping each other to ensure the show looks polished when we perform.
In September, we began practicing our singing in the choir room. By October, we moved on to staging and building the scenes for the performance. There are many details throughout the musical that you will definitely enjoy—from the performers’ incredible acting to the intricate set design and the funny jokes we share.
Behind the scenes, we have an amazing technical team! Technical theater encompasses all the stage lighting, props, scenery, sound, makeup, and costumes used in a production. Most of the tech crew only have a month of the performance to learn the entire musical, so it can be extremely stressful for some. The lighting is controlled by people on the catwalk above and from the booth behind the audience. The sound for the microphones, songs, and more is also managed from this booth. We have crew members in the fly line behind the stage who manage hanging props, curtains, and anything else that needs to be elevated. Our stage manager ensures everything runs smoothly and addresses any issues that arise during the performance. We also have prop control, where team members organize and place every prop on the table properly. Additionally, there are videographers who record the entire show so we can review it later to improve and keep it as a memory.
Every day, the actors and ensemble stay after school from 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM when closer to the performance days, to work on anything we might have missed. We also prepare for two hours before the audience arrives. During intermission, we get ready for the second half of the show, which allows time for the audience to grab water and use the restroom. After the musical, we would love to meet you at the exits to say hi and chat. We all enjoy being a little jazzy with our characters, too!
You can buy tickets using the link below. Our theater also has an Instagram to keep you updated on the latest things. Be sure to check the poster at the bottom for the days we will be performing! Don’t forget to look at the Photo album of all of the things that have been happening so far with the musical. You can Look around the school for our “WHITE CHRISTMAS THE MUSICAL” posters as well.
THE CHIS THEATER INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/cihstheatre?igsh=endrdHB1eHNwazJt
THE TICKETS
https://cur8.com/2044/project/126511
