White Christmas features music and lyrics by Irving Berlin with book by David Ives and Paul Blake begins a new holiday touring production, produced by Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars.

“Irving Berlin’s White Christmas is a delightful new musical based on the 1954 Paramount hit movie.  It tells the story of two veterans Bob and Phil who have a successful song- and-dance act after the war. With romance in mind, the two follow a duo of beautiful singing sisters en route to their Christmas show at a Vermont lodge, which just happens to be owned by Bob and Phil’s former Army commander. The boys soon realize they are the only guests at the resort because there is no snow! In order to help the General, they come up with a scheme to bring in a crowd.  They decide to stage their newest Broadway revue, as well as make a special television appeal to all their Army buddies to show up on Christmas Eve,” explain press notes.

The show features the classic Irving Berlin hits “Blue Skies,” “Sisters,” “Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep,” “I Love a Piano?” and the most popular song in history, “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.”

Directed by Jeff Calhoun, White Christmas stars Tom Galantich as crooner Bob Wallace; Marla Schaffel will portray singing sister Betty Haynes; David Engel plays the dashing Phil Davis; Kristen Beth Williams will appear as Betty’s sister and matchmaker Judy Haynes. Also starring as the cheerful but nosey inn manager Martha is Karen Murphy; George McDaniel stars as the commanding General Waverly; Fred Berman will portray high powered producer, Ralph Sheldrake; Elisa Van Duyne portrays bubbly chorus girl Rita; starring as the General’s daughter Susan Waverly is Hannah Misera.

Tour Schedule:
Savannah Civic Center in Savannah, GA – Nov. 3 & 4
Fabulous Fox Theatre in Atlanta, GA – Nov. 6-11
Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton, WI – Nov 13-18
Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville, TN – Nov 27-Dec 2
Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN – Dec 4-9
Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, NY – Dec 11-16
Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, NY – Dec 18-23
Progress Energy Center at Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh, NC – Dec 26-30
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Center in Fort Myers, FL – Jan. 1-6, 2008

The creative team includes Noah Racey as Choreographer, Steven Landau as Musical Director/Conductor, Kenneth Foy as Scenic Designer, Ken Billington as Lighting Designer, Peter Fitzgerald and Erich Bechtel as Sound Designers and Wade Laboissonniere as Costume Designer.

Theater of the Stars will present White Christmas at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree Street, from Nov 6-11, 2007.  Preview performances are scheduled for Tuesday-Thursday at 8PM.  The official opening of the tour is Friday at 8PM with additional performances on Saturday at 2PM & 8PM and Sunday at 1:30PM & 7PM.

Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Purchases through Ticketmaster can be made in three ways: at Ticketmaster ticket centers, by calling 404-817-8700, by ordering online at www.ticketmaster.com. For group ticket sales, call the Fox Theatre Group Sales Office at 404-881-2000. Ticket prices range from $20- $64.

Theater of the Stars is celebrating its 55th Anniversary this year as one of the nation’s premier theater companies.  A civic non-profit cultural organization, Theater of the Stars is dedicated to presenting and producing the best in musical theater. To learn more about their history of excellence, visit them at www.theaterofthestars.com

Pittsburgh CLO presents two Holiday shows: Tickets for Pittsburgh CLO’s 16th annual holiday production of A Musical Christmas Carol at the Byham Theater and the highly-anticipated Pittsburgh premiere of Plaid Tidings at the CLO Cabaret will go on sale Friday, October 5, 2007.

Plaid Tidings > November 8, 2007 – January 13, 2008 > The very best of Forever Plaid wrapped up in a nifty package with a big bow on top! Pittsburgh’s original cast (J.D. Daw, Joe Domencic, Adam Halpin and Marcus Stevens) is back in town for their highly-anticipated Christmas Special, filled with “plaid-erized” holiday favorites. At first The Plaids aren’t sure why they’ve returned, but a phone call from the heavenly Rosemary Clooney tells them that they’re needed to add a little harmony to the world. Plaid Tidings is sponsored by TRACO.

Performances are Wednesday-Saturday evenings, 7:30PM; and Saturday & Sunday matinees at 2PM. Tickets ($50.50) are available online at www.PittsburghCLO.org, by calling 412-456-6666 or at the Box Office at Theater Square. Groups of 10 or more can call the Group Sales Hotline at 412-325-1582 to learn more about special discounts and priority seating.

A Musical Christmas Carol > December 7-23, 2007 Byham Theater > Featuring classic characters and a wealth of yuletide melodies, this traditional holiday tale is a must see! Audiences are sure to enjoy Ebenezer Scrooge’s ghostly adventure through the past, present and future as he finds redemption from a life of loneliness and greed, and just in time to celebrate the season. Young and old alike will rejoice in this heartwarming musical production!

Performances are Fridays at 7:30PM; Saturdays at 12PM, 4PM & 8PM; Sundays at 2PM & 6PM; and Thursday December 20 at 7:30PM. Student Matinees are December 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 18 & 19 at 10AM

Pittsburgh CLO is proud to present eight specially priced 10AM Student Matinees. With an informative study guide, behind-the-scenes DVD and captivating musical performances, A Musical Christmas Carol is both an educational theater experience and wonderful holiday celebration!  Teachers who want to make A Musical Christmas Carol part of their lesson plans should call the Group Sales Hotline at (412) 263-2560.

Tickets to A Musical Christmas Carol are affordably priced for family entertainment from $26.50 to $42.50 with half-priced tickets for children 3-14.  Tickets are available online at www.PittsburghCLO.org or by calling (412) 456-6666 or at the Box Office at Theater Square.

Pittsburgh CLO has carefully designed special group discounts and corporate ticket programs to accommodate any size group!  Interested parties should call the Group Sales Hotline at (412) 263-2560 to learn more about these fantastic opportunities.     

Related Links > http://www.pittsburghclo.org

Christmas 2007 sees English National Ballet break with tradition by opening its Coliseum season with Michael Corder’s glittering new production of The Snow Queen (11 – 16 December). The Company’s traditional showing of family favourite The Nutcracker follows with Christopher Hampson’s flamboyant production returning for its seventh consecutive season (19 December – 6 January). The season finale brings Derek Deane’s proscenium arch production of Swan Lake back to London for the first time since 2001 (8 - 19 January 2008).

Another record-breaking season has prompted English National Ballet to once again return to the Coliseum with three ballets. The 2006/2007 Christmas season broke all previous box office records with performances of The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland and Giselle selling 85,818 tickets over a six week season at the London Coliseum.

The Snow Queen is Michael Corder’s third new work for English National Ballet; his other works for the Company are his acclaimed production of Cinderella premiered in 1996, and the recently performed Melody on the Move created in 2003. The Snow Queen is the first new full length ballet produced by English National Ballet in over 10 years.

The music for The Snow Queen is arranged by Julian Philips from Prokofiev’s ballet The Stone Flower and other Prokofiev works. Julian’s original works include Strange Seas, commissioned by the Britten Sinfonia and later performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and Out of Light commissioned by BBC Proms and premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in 2001.

The production is designed by Mark Bailey whose previous collaborations with Corder include Melody on the Move in 2003. Mark’s recent projects include Hamlet for Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and An Ideal Husband for Theatr Clwyd.

Based on Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale, The Snow Queen is a touching, gothic fairy tale which will be lavishly retold by English National Ballet. The Snow Queen tells the story of young friends, Kay and Gerda. Kay catches slivers of the Snow Queen’s shattered magic mirror in his eye and in his heart, and his character begins to change. As Kay is spirited away to the Snow Queen’s palace, eternal winter descends on the village. Gerda searches the world over to find her friend.

This fantastic journey finally takes her to the Snow Queen’s Palace which is inhabited by her magical court of wolves, white foxes, ice maidens and sprites. Gerda’s love for Kay releases him from the spell, the slivers of mirror fall from his eye and heart and the Snow Queen’s curse of eternal winter is broken.

Andersen’s fairy tales have inspired plays, ballets, films and many works of art. The Snow Queen was first published in 1844 and has since been translated into more than 80 languages.

Continuing the season in traditional style, English National Ballet presents The Nutcracker, choreographed by Christopher Hampson, and designed by Gerald Scarfe. Hampson/Scarfe’s ballet is colourful and vibrant and offers an eccentric retelling of this classic Christmas ballet.

Clara, her Nutcracker doll and the magician, Drosselmeyer, take us on adventures in the Land of Snow and the Kingdom of the Sweets. Clara battles with a Mouse King, flies on an origami bird and falls in love with a handsome Prince. English National Ballet’s Nutcracker is the ideal Christmas treat for all the family, and has proved hugely popular with audiences since its premiere in 2002.

To round off the season, the Company presents Derek Deane’s Swan Lake. Arguably the most popular ballet ever created, Swan Lake tells the story of Prince Siegfried’s powerful love for the Swan Queen, Odette, and their battle against the evil magician, Rothbart.

Derek Deane’s traditional production brings the romance and high drama of the grand Russian ballet tradition alive. Swan Lake is set to Tchaikovsky’s magnificent score, which features some of the most beautiful music in the classical ballet repertoire.

This Swan Lake was originally produced for English National Ballet by Derek Deane in 2000, based on a reworking of his 1997 in the round version. The in the round production has recently enjoyed full houses at the Royal Albert Hall and has delighted audiences of over 400,000 in the ten years since its premiere.

Excerpts from this production were featured in Concert for Diana in Wembley Stadium on 1 July. The proscenium arch production was last seen in London in 2001.

English National Ballet will be performing at the Coliseum with its full Company of 64 dancers and full orchestra. The international line up of dancers includes popular husband and wife partnership Agnes Oaks and Thomas Edur, as well Daria Klimentová and Dmitri Gruzdyev; Elena Glurdjidze and Arionel Vargas; Erina Takahashi and César Morales, and Fernanda Oliveira. For the latest national and international touring information and to book online, visit English National Ballet’s website at www.Ballet.org.uk.

London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, London, WC2N 4ES, England. Ticket prices: £10 - £60

The Snow Queen > 11 – 15 December 7.30pm, 12, 15 December 2.30pm, 13 December 2pm (Schools), 16 December 3pm, (Pre performance talks on 13 December 6pm, 16 December 1.30pm)

The Nutcracker > 19 – 22, 26 – 29 December, 2 – 5 January 7.30pm, 19 - 22, 26 – 29 December, 2, 3, 5 January 2.30pm, 23, 30 December, 6 January 3pm, (Pre performance talks on 20, 29 December, 2 January 6pm)

Swan Lake > 8 – 12, 15 – 19 January 7.30pm, 10, 12, 16, 19 January 2.30pm, 13 January 3pm, (Pre performance talk on 17 January 6pm)

For further information, visit www.Ballet.org.uk

The Natchitoches Christmas Festival is accepting applications for the 2007 Christmas Festival Lighted Boat Parade.

The parade, which is the first major event of the 2007 Christmas Festival, will be at 6 p.m. November 30 Cane River Lake in downtown Natchitoches. Barges, boats, canoes, virtually anything that floats safely can enter. There is no entry fee; however, every entry must have lights.

First place will receive $250; second place receives $150 and third place receives $100. Additionally, the Cane River Waterway Commission is offering a $200 safety award to the entry that exhibits the best water safety features. Miss Merry Christmas and the Christmas Belles are the parade’s official judges.

This event has become one of the most popular events of the festival season. This year it has been expanded to make it an even greater spectacle and to offer the opportunity for everyone to become a part of the fun of the festival. To enter the barge parade or for more information, call Lori Tate at (31 357-8744, (31 354-8761 or cell (31 663-8744.

For more information about the festival, call Nick Pollacia Jr., Natchitoches Christmas Festival director, at (31 352-6894, or Iris Harper at the Natchitoches Parish Tourist Commission at (800) 259-1714. For more information on the Christmas Festival, visit www.christmasfestival.com

Leading lady Anna-Jane Casey returns to the West End to headline Christmas in New York, the West End’s unique celebration of contemporary seasonal show tunes and festive favorites, for one night only at the Lyric Theatre on Sunday, December 9.

Starring alongside Anna-Jane Casey will be Julie Atherton who currently plays the lead roles of Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut in Avenue Q, fellow Notes from New York regular Paul Spicer, Wicked’s Oliver Tompsett and Desperately Seeking Susan’s Emma Williams with West End favorites Melanie La Barrie, Matt Cross, Ashleigh Gray, Alex Jessop, Debbie Kurup, Steven Webb and Rachael Wooding. Joined by an on-stage choir of twenty four, this dynamic young cast will raise the roof in seasonal celebration.

“Evoking a magical time of year in a much loved city, Christmas in New York is the perfect seasonal treat for musical theatre fans and anyone with a song in their heart. It is the latest installment in the West End’s critically acclaimed Notes from New York series which produces contemporary musical theatre for a mainstream audience and has enjoyed a number of sell-out shows at prestigious venues,” state press notes. Christmas in New York is directed by David Randall with associate direction by Paul Spicer and sound design by Mark Dunne.

Following its sell-out success last year, Christmas in New York returns for a second outing and is set to become an annual event in the West End calendar. Exuding the warmth, the joy, the love, the longing and the haunting musicality of Christmas, songs by composers such as John Bucchino, Craig Carnelia, David Friedman, Andrew Lippa, Charles Miller, Grant Olding and Maury Yeston  are intertwined with classic carols and an exciting new musical treatment of the popular poem “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”

Anna-Jane Casey recently played Dot in the Menier Chocolate Factory’s award-winning production of Sunday in the Park with George and starred in Not(es) from New York at the Duchess Theatre. Her previous theatre credits include Mabel in Mack and Mabel at the Watermill Theatre Newbury, Edith Piaf in Piaf and Charity in Sweet Charity at the Sheffield Crucible, Velma Kelly in Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End.

Notes from New York presents Christmas in New York starring Anna-Jane Casey, Julie Atherton, Paul Spicer, Oliver Tompsett and Emma Williams on Sunday, December 9 at 7:30PM at Lyric Theatre (Shaftesbury Avenue, London W1).  Tickets (£32-£12) are available at 0870 890 1107 and www.christmasinnewyork.co.uk

The singer will play seven dates in London’s Wembley Arena

   Thousands of British fans will welcome in the New Year with pop star Kylie Minogue as she stages her UK comeback. The Australian singer is launching the British leg of her Showgirl Homecoming tour at Wembley Arena in London.

Fans in Sydney were the first to see the tour last month as Minogue, covered in pink feathers, returned to the stage following treatment for breast cancer.

The pint-sized star, 38, has promised the £65 New Year show will be “the biggest party of all”. It kicks off at 2000 GMT, finishing as the clock strikes midnight and 2006 draws to a close.

A dancefloor with capacity for 3,500 people has been specially-built at the North London arena, allowing revellers to continue celebrating until 0100GMT.

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that Tube services will be free and run until 0430GMT, as well as normal night bus services.

Minogue has another six dates planned at Wembley in 2007, followed by a further six nights in Manchester.

It had been hoped she would also play at this year’s Glastonbury festival, after pulling out of a headlining slot in 2005 following her cancer diagnosis. But earlier this month festival organiser Emily Eavis told BBC 6 Music that Minogue was too busy to join this year’s line-up.

Minogue’s record company, Parlophone, has also said she is working on material which could be released in 2007.

Related Links > Kylie’s Official Website > http://www.kylie.com

http://www.whatsonwembley.com
http://www.tfl.gov.uk

If December 31 is your birthday

The year ahead can bring romance, excitement and a successful change for the better. People look upon you more favorably than usual over the next few months and you appear glamorous, accomplished and desirable. Whether you are looking for a new romantic partner and soul mate or a successful foothold in the business world you are likely to impress everyone with your talents. Take advantage of opportunities or offers that appear out of the blue in April and November. People in general will have your best interests at heart and whatever you start during those months will lead to prosperity or improved conditions.