Looking for a White Christmas? You got it!
Whether or not it snows over the holiday, it’s a certain that White Christmas is coming to the Minneota High School this week.
The Irving Berlin musical classic will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday by a cast of over 40 high school students.
Aubree Cheadle will be directing her second musical at the school; the first being last fall’s production of High School Musical. She also has directed two spring plays — Anne of Green Gables and Twelve Angry Jurors.
“I picked this musical because I thought it was a good show to showcase the students that we have; many of whom are seniors this year,” she said.
“I also thought it would be a great opportunity to bring this holiday classic to life in Minneota.”
Cheadle performed in the 2010 production of White Christmas during her freshman year at South Dakota State University.
“We’re actually renting several costumes from them for our show,” she noted. “So that’s been a fun flashback.”
The cast and crew began rehearsals in mid-September and have typically held two or three rehearsals per week.
“They have worked very hard to learn the music and choreography for this show, which is no easy feat,” said Cheadle.
“Many of them have balanced both the musical and other extra-curricular activities.” The director and cast had to overcome one small complication.
“The musical was originally scheduled for the weekend before Thanksgiving, as it usually is,” Cheadle revealed. “However, because Thanksgiving falls so late this year, we ran into conflicts with basketball and other winter sports. So we had to move our show up a week.”
But, as they say, ‘The show must go on’. “It certainly added pressure to get the show on a week earlier, but we’ve risen to the challenge,” Cheadle remarked.
The musical has several differences between the stage version and the 1954 classic film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen.
“There are several different songs, however, the overall story is pretty close,” said Cheadle. “And many songs, such as ‘Sisters’, ‘Snow’, and, of course, ‘White Christmas’, are featured in both (the musical and the film).”
The four main characters are Bob Wallace played by Jacob Haen, Phil Davis played by Jackson Jeremiason, Betty Haynes played by Cecilia Rabaey, and Judy Haynes played by Natalie Bot.
“I hope our audience will enjoy this show as much as I have enjoyed directing it,” Cheadle said. “White Christmas is such a fun story and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of the music.”
“It’s been an honor to work with such a talented group of students, and I look forward to putting on this show and getting to really see them shine.”
CAST Bob Wallace - Jacob Haen; Phil Davis - Jackson Jeremiason; Betty Haynes - Cecilia Rabaey; Judy Haynes - Natalie Bot; General Henry Waverly - Brenden Kimpe; Martha Watson - Emma Lipinski; Susan Waverly - Sylvia Rabaey; Ralph Sheldrake - Joe Voit; Rita Bobsey - Morgan Hennen; Rhoda Bobsey - Abby Hennen; Ezekiel Foster - Joseph Verschelde; Michelle Nulty - Autumn Dovre; Tessie - Kate Landrus; Jimmy - Nolan Boerboom; Cigarette Girl - Reese Gillund; Snoring Man - Tristan Bierschenk; Mrs. Snoring Man - Brooke Moorse; Train Conductor - Jacob Hennen; Dance Captain - Tara Thooft; Seamstress - Jodi Buysse; Assistant Seamstress - Madison Sorensen; Sheldrake’s Secretary - Audra Buysse.
WALLACE AND DAVIS’ DANCE ENSEMBLE Tara Thooft, Kimberly Bloch, Kathrin Walerius, Kaitlyn Ludwikowski, Molly Krog.
ENSEMBLE Carter Anderson, Logan Anderson, Klaire Banks, Audra Buysse, Jacob Citterman, Joey Clark, Jacob Hennen, Samantha Landrus, Olivia Mahan-Deitte, Elena Myhre, Shantal Pearcy, Abby Rost, Emily Rybinski, Joey Rybinski, Cole Sanow, Kara Schmig, Logan Sussner.
CREW Hannah Brewers, Logan Schuelke, McKenzie Monnet, Alyssa Engels, Sean Dilley, Ella Bot, Reagan Bierschenk, Kaci Callens.