White Christmas A Hit At Community Players Theatre

With Thanksgiving and the shopping holiday weekend safely behind us, it's time to turn up the volume on our Christmas holiday spirit. And for those of us in central Illinois, an evening enjoying Irving Berlin's White Christmas live on the stage of Community Players Theatre may be the best way possible.

http://www.communityplayers.org/shows_a_christmas.html

New to the CP stage in a leading role is my Damn Yankees cast teammate Ray Rybarczyk, who masterfully mixes the showy, silly and serene sides of Bob Wallace with an impressive singing voice in his up-and-down romantic pursuit of Betty Haynes, portrayed as naturally by Lindsey Kaupp as if she had indeed been a 1950's star of the stage.

Jason Strunk (as Phil Davis) and Larisa McCoy (Judy Haynes) are a perfect and comical complement to their lovelorn friend/sister, while also carrying scenes of their own including a mesmerizing sequence on the dance floor.

Stage veterans John Lieder (General Henry Waverly) and Mary Wiese (Martha Watson) play the endearing roles of the beloved and belligerent retired commander-turned-innkeeper, and the feisty and remarkably witty ex-Broadway star-turned-housekeeper.

The well-rounded cast also features eighth grade up-and-comer Caroline McKinzie (Susan Waverly), the general's granddaughter with the preciously sweet disposition and ear-catching singing voice; Joe Culpepper as the shuffling, delightfully indifferent custodian Ezekiel Foster; ever-giggly chorus girls/temptresses Heather Olson (Rita) and Ali Lockenvitz (Rhoda); John Poling (Ralph Sheldrake) of the Ed Sullivan Show, whose energetic performance ignites the opening scene; and Jay Hartzler (Mike) who captures the essence of the paranoid stage manager to a tee.

And of course I've got to give a shout out to my other acting pals - Hairspray alum Sara Schramm Bronson (Tessie), Raventhorne Chronicles leading lady Skylar Tempel (Seamstress), and Damn Yankees dazzler Whitney Spencer whose jaw-dropping choreography steals the show throughout.

Audience participation features multiple opportunities for singing the White Christmas classic together with the cast.

Kudos to producers John and Jean Lieder and the rest of the staff on a stellar cast, direction, set design, music, lighting, sound, costumes and props that launch us all merrily into a bright Christmas mood.