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SALT LAKE CITY -- Snow or not on December 25th, the cast of Pioneer Theatre Company's "White Christmas" is singing and dancing as if it is a sure thing. The production has become so popular, the theatre has extended the run.
The good news for this arts organization is that many people are pausing during their holiday shopping and parties to step into Pioneer Memorial Theatre to remember the feel good story. It's a classic both on and off the big screen. The show's musical director, Michael Horsley, helped create "Irving Berlin's White Christmas" for Broadway.
"He's a composer who is not trained, yet he is touted as our great American composer," Horsley said. "He was incredible, extraordinary, unique individual who wrote beautiful, beautiful melodies that communicate to every single age, no matter what decade."
The message at Pioneer Theatre Company is, just because you know and love the movie version of "White Christmas" doesn't mean you've seen it all.
Tally Sessions, who plays Bob Wallace, said, "There's much more music from Irving Berlin's catalogue that's been interwoven into the piece. You might think you've seen it, but this is a fresh take on it that I think is worth checking out, especially it's live theatre, which you can't really beat."
The demand for tickets has extended performances. The cast and crew believe it means people want to be reminded this is about reaching out and rescuing someone.
Amy Justman, who plays Betty Haynes, said, "I think about the thousand people that are sitting out there. Some of them, you see them in their Christmas garb, coming to see the show, and I just think about how we're giving them such a wonderful gift."
Pioneer Theatre Company has added a week of performances of "White Christmas," December 20th through the 24th, which includes matinees.
E-mail: cmikita@ksl.com
