'White Christmas' forecast at WHS

Christmas cheer, the big, bold and flashy type, will soon be spread from the Watertown High School auditorium stage.

The high school's Select Choir will stage "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" for five shows Wednesday through Saturday.

Instead of staging a traditional fall show, Select choir director Russell J. Faunce opted to wait and put on "White Christmas" during the holidays.

"I wanted to do something different," Mr. Faunce said. "And this is a new version of 'White Christmas.'"

Based on the beloved 1954 film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney, the stage adaptation features 17 Irving Berlin songs and a book by David Ives and Paul Blake. It's about World War II veterans and song-and-dance team members Bob Wallace and Phil Davis. With romance in mind, the pair follow two singing sisters, Judy and Betty Haynes, en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which happens to be owned by Bob and Phil's former Army commander.

Besides the title song, selections include "Blue Skies," "Happy Holidays" "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" and "Sisters."

Last year, a "White Christmas" version made its way to Broadway for a seasonal run and it continues this year at the Marquis Theatre. Select Choir members made the trek down and saw the Broadway production on Nov. 25.

"We haven't done a big, extravagant show like this in a few years," junior Katy M. Michael, who plays Judy Haynes, said at a rehearsal a week before the choir's Broadway trip. "It's a very flashy show, in costumes and sets. And it's cheerful."

"It's very show tune-esque, if you can imagine that," said senior William J. Boulter, who plays Phil Davis. "There's also big smiles and big hand movements."

And the audience can expect lots of dancing, something many of the cast members had to learn fast.

'There's a lot of tap dancing," said senior Mark P. Harrienger, who plays Bob Wallace.

"There's 40 in the cast, but only five have tapped," said choreographer David A. Simmons. "There's also different styles of dancing, such as ballroom and duets."

Mr. Simmons said he's been amazed at the progress. "It's really been kind of fun," he said. "A lot of the girls have dance experience, but the boys don't. But they have risen to the challenge."

"Every song has a dance except for a few duets and solos," said Mr. Harrienger

"It was hard, but the results are well worth it," said Mr. Harrienger. "It looks great."

Mr. Boulter pointed out another challenge.

"It's a show within a show," he said, noting the song-and-dance shows put on by the characters. "We have our own sets and the 'show's' sets to worry about."

The singers say they aren't disappointed they aren't presenting something more contemporary.

"I grew up on Bing Crosby," said Mr. Harrienger.

"My grandparents are so excited to see it," said Miss Michael. "The movie came out in their generation."

"It's going to be great because a lot of people have a personal connection to 'White Christmas,'" said senior Laura A. Hirst, who plays Betty.

"I think it will be one of our biggest shows," said Mr. Boulter.