Imagine a festive fir tree festooned with tinsel, strings of popcorn, precious ornamental lights, candy canes, garlands of red, green and gold necklaces, and all the good memories from holidays past, present and future. This will surely put you in a hopeful and happy mood. You can capture that warm spirit even easier by purchasing a ticket to one of the season’s most magical events:” Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical.”
Do you have room on your holiday wish list? If so, be sure to add Goodspeed’s delightful present of “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.” Just in time to usher in the New Year, it will play until Wednesday, December 31, and what better way to begin 2026. In 1954, “White Christmas” was made into a movie of the same name starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen. Now it is coming to the stage in all its sentimental glory, with book by David Ives and Paul Blake.
Irving Berlin, the immigrant son of a Russian cantor, wrote a significant portion of America’s Songbook. Capable of composing one song, music and lyrics, every day, he would begin writing at 8 p.m. and frequently continue until 4 or 5 in the morning. Ironically, Berlin, a Jew, is credited with two of the greatest holiday songs, “Easter Parade” and the world favorite “White Christmas,” as well as with the grand patriotic anthem “God Bless America.”
The stirring musical, “Irving Berlin’s White Christmas” is set when the world was struggling with the repercussions of World War II. It tells the tale of two charming and talented soldiers, Bob Wallace played by Omar Lopez-Cepero) and his pal Phil Davis,Clyde Alves, who enjoy entertaining the troops with a holiday variety show. This song-and-dance team continues their act after the war and meet up with a singing sister duo, Lauren Nicole Chapman as Betty Haynes and Jonalyn Saxer as her sister Judy. About to part company, the guys heading to Florida to work on a new act and the girls going north, a swift change of train tickets finds all four at an inn in Vermont for Christmas.
A lack of snowfall, a need for guests, a little romance, an avalanche of singing and dancing and a reunion with their old commander General Waverly, played by Bruce Sabath from their army days, all combine into a whirlwind of fun. Songs like “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” “Sisters,” “Blue Skies,” “I Love a Piano” and “White Christmas” are all guaranteed crowd pleasers, especially with the whirlwind of dancing feet thanks to Kelli Barclay, choreographer, elaborate costuming by Antonio Consuegra and spot on direction by Hunter Foster.
The show is a big movie musical that will make you feel good and smile throughout. It was originally written when the country was in bad shape and needed to feel better and be entertained, a situation not so different today. This sparkling show has an adorable Sofie Nesanelis shining as the General’s granddaughter, as well as Jeff Gallup as Ralph Sheldrake and Aurelia Williams as an engaging Martha Watson. Can his 151st battalion save the General’s inn? They can sure give it a four star try.
For tickets (currently sold out), call the Goodspeed at 860-873-8668 or online at Goodspeed.org to check the waiting list. Shows are Wednesday and Thursday at 2 p.m. and 7:30, Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at 6:30 p.m.
End your 2025 on a high note or start 2026 with a bang by making the Goodspeed your stepping off point for a joyous holiday celebration with enough music and dance to fill an inn in Vermont to the brim of exciting entertainment. If there isn’t a word “dancingest” there should be for this holiday show.
