Irving Berlin�s White Christmas: plays final performance on Broadway

The Broadway production of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, a new musical stage reinvention of the classic film, ends its limited engagement at the Marriott Marquis Theatre on 4 Jan 2009 as scheduled. The musical played 12 previews and 53 regular performances.

The musical opened at the Marriott Marquis Theatre on 23 Nov 2009, following previews from 14 Nov 2009.

White Christmas opened to luke-warm to poor reviews: About as fresh and appealing as a roll of Necco wafers found in a mothballed Christmas stocking." (NY Times); "As Broadway musicals go, it's a little creaky. But as a holiday entertainment, it's light and bright and boasts some great production numbers." (NY Daily News); "A little disappointing... so lacking in genuine Yuletide spirit." (NY Post); "It's as insubstantial as the sudsy snowflakes that fall on the audience during the grand finale." (Backstage); "Surprisingly bland stage adaptation of the popular 1954 movie" (AP).

The show stars Stephen Bogardus (Bob Wallace), Kerry O�Malley (Betty Haynes), Jeffry Denman (Phil Davis), Meredith Patterson (Judy Haynes), Charles Dean (General Henry Waverly), Susan Mansur (Martha Watson), Peter Reardon (Ralph Sheldrake), Cliff Bemis (Ezekiel), Sheffield Chastian (Mike Nulty) and Melody Hollis (Susan Waverly).

The musical tells the story of two showbiz buddies who put on a show in a picturesque Vermont inn, and find their perfect mates in the bargain, and will feature the classic songs 'Sisters,' 'Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep' and of course White Christmas

White Christmas is directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie (Chicago) and choreographed by Randy Skinner, with a book by David Ives and Paul Blake.

The creative team includes Anna Louizos (sets), Carrie Robbins (costumes), Ken Billington (lighting) and Acme Sound Partners (sound).

White Christmas is produced on Broadway by Kevin McCollum, John Gore, Tom McGrath, Paul Blake, The Producing Office, Dan Markley, Sonny Everett and Broadway Across America in association with Paramount Pictures.

The Paramount picture, released in 1954, was directed by Michael Curtiz and choreograped by Bob Fosse (Not credited), it starred Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellening.