Dearborn High School will present “White Christmas” Thursday through Sunday at the school, 19501 W. Outer Drive in Dearborn. The double cast show includes Mariam Mustafa (front row left) as Susan Waverly, Omar Mullan as General Henry Waverly, Natalie Joseph (back row left) as Betty Haynes, Josh Goddard as Bob Wallace, Shelley Hook as Betty Haynes, Joe Gaber as Bob Wallace, Amanda Balaka as Judy Haynes, Eric Reilly as Phil Davis, and Aubrey Cherry as Judy Haynes.
By Sue Suchyta
The Dearborn High School theater program will kick off the holiday season with the Dearborn premiere of the Irving Berlin’s musical, “White Christmas” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in the school auditorium.
The show, which runs through Sunday, also will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and will close with a 3 p.m. matinee Sunday.
The stage version of “White Christmas” is based on the 1954 Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney film of the same name. It follows two World War II Army buddies and entertainers, Bob Wallace and Phil Davis, who meet and fall in love with the Haines sisters when they catch their nightclub act.
They follow the sisters to a Vermont inn during the holiday season only to discover the resort is owned by their former commanding general. When they hear the inn is having financial trouble, the couples team up to save it.
In addition to the holiday classic song, “White Christmas” the musical score includes “Blue Skies,” “How Deep is the Ocean,” “Count Your Blessings,” “Happy Holidays,” “I Love a Piano,” and “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.”
The cast of 35 students is led by seniors Josh Goddard and Joe Gaber who are double cast in the role of Bob Wallace, while sophomore Wesley Montgomery and senior Eric Reilly share the role of Phil Davis.
Seniors Natalie Joseph and Shelley Hook are double cast in the role of Betty Haines, while seniors Aubrey Cherry and Amanda Balaka share the Judy Haines role.
Junior Erik Peterson and senior Omar Mullan are double cast in the role of General Waverly while senior Larissa Babak and junior Camille Charara will share the role of hotel manager Martha Watson.
Seniors Anna Mallard and Mariam Mustafa are dual cast as Susan Waverly. Junior Tim Smith plays Ralph Sheldrake, while junior Bella Fothergill plays Tessie.
The double cast roles will spotlight Goddard, Montgomery, Joseph, Cherry, Peterson, Babak and Mustafa Thursday and Saturday, while Gaber, Reilly, Hook, Balaka, Mullan, Charara and Mallard perform Friday and Sunday.
The musical is produced and directed by Greg Phillip Viscomi, with musical direction by Carmelle Atkins and choreography by Jennifer McPherson.
General admission tickets are $11, with a $1 discount for college students with identification. Student, child and senior citizen tickets are $7 at the door. The musical is suitable for all audiences.
For ticket reservations and show info, call (313) 827-1647. The school is at 19501 W. Outer Drive in Dearborn.
To Kill a Mockingbird takes flight at the Bonstelle Theatre
“To Kill a Mockingbird” takes flight Friday as Wayne State University’s undergraduate Bonstelle Theatre continues its 60th season with the Christopher Sergel play based upon the critically acclaimed Harper Lee novel.
The Pulitzer prize-winning story is seen through the eyes of a young girl during the Great Depression. She learns about life’s harshness and loses her innocent outlook as she sees moral double standards and prejudice amongst her neighbors.
Dearborn residents in the cast include Matthew Miazgowicz as Dill, Joe Hamid as Arthur “Boo” Radley, Cal M. Schwartz as Judge Taylor and William Turbett as the clerk. Kerianne Fergurson of Dearborn Heights will play Maudie Atkinson.
The production will run Friday through Sunday through Dec. 12 at the Bonstelle, 3424 Woodward Ave. in Detroit. Tickets are $12 to $15 and are available though the theater box office at (313) 577-2960 and online at www.bonstelle.com.
A $25 “American Literature Classic” package will allow theater goers to see both the Bonstelle’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” and the Hilberry Theatre’s production of John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men.”
For more information, go to www.bonstelle.com or call (313) 577-2960.