Classic show in Chanhassen for holidays

  • 2024-09-08
A stage musical based on one of the most popular films in history is making its debut on the Main Stage of the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres.

The film “White Christmas,” featuring songs by Irving Berlin, and a book by Paul Blake and David Ives, was released in 1954. The plot revolves around two ex-GIs, Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye), who become a successful song-and-dance duo after World War II. After discovering their former commanding general is failing at running an inn in Vermont, they take their show to his hotel, and help save it.

People who love the film may be surprised to discover it was not a hit when first released. However, it has become a standard over the years, and is often broadcast, or re-released in theaters during the holidays. Its ongoing popularity led to the creation of the stage show, which opened in 2000 at The Muny in St. Louis. It has toured in the UK, Australia, the West End, and run on Broadway.

People who are familiar with the film will find some of the songs, such as “Gee I Wish I Was Back in the Army,” missing from the stage production, while some new tunes (“Falling Out of Love Can Be Fun”) have been incorporated into the stage version.

“White Christmas” opens for an extended run on October 4. When productions like this are planned, organizers will often ask printers to assist by using poster printing to create advertising.