White Christmas at Riverwalk Theatre is a feel-good panorama of nostalgia — a 50's style musical extravaganza, with 74 participants onstage, backstage and in the orchestra, which is holed away in the adjoining Rehearsal Hall, directed by maestro/keyboardist John Dale Smith via video link. (This enables better balance between singers and orchestra using a mixer - thanks, Steve Edwards/Matt Ottinger.) The musicians showed up on stage to take their bow during curtain call, in case anyone assumed the orchestra was a prerecorded Broadway soundtrack.
Director Jane Falion has masterminded this well oiled machine of a musical, with considerable help from choreographer Karyn Perry. The group musical numbers and tap dancing were wonderful. Aspects that elevated this show and let its energy flow may have gone unnoticed: deft scene changes and lightning costume changes — and there were a lot of both. (Kudos to Costumer Kristine Maier and her large crew.) I'm sure the "show" backstage would have been impressive to see, as well!
The leads were adorable, the "stars" of Lansing theatre, Joe Quick and Adam Woolsey - with Racheal Raymer and Rachel Dalton bringing their own star quality, though the ladies haven't quite the list of leads as their gentlemen friends. All four "sang and danced their way into the hearts of America" in bright-eyed 50's style.
Kelly Stuible and Kyra McComber brought charm and humor, as well as a funny Ken Beachler playing against type. (It made me chuckle that his "real" mellifluous announcer voice was heard offstage in the elegant ballroom scene, while on stage, he shuffled and "ayupped" in overalls as Ezekiel.) Doak Bloss brought subtlety and heart as the crusty but lovable General for whom the show must go on.
White Christmas is not enTiREly sold out, as rumor has it (the center section probably is, but the show is well blocked for the sides, as well.) You DEFinitely should phone ahead for reservations and arrive EARLY for best parking. There is extra parking in the gravel lot behind R.E. Olds Museum at the end of the circle on Museum Drive. If you park in the lot behind Knight Cap, you can walk along the River Trail to the Riverwalk door.
7pm Wed/Thur; 8pm Fri/Sat; 2pm Sun -- PLUS added 7pm show on Sunday, Dec. 15
www.riverwalktheatre.com
$20/$18 student/senior/$10 for kids 12 and younger.482-5700 -- reservations STRONGly recommended
If you want to read a better review than this one, check out Teresa Dawe's much appreciated online rave:
http://lansingonlinenews.com/news/stone-soup-riverwalk-theatre-thrills-with-white-christmas/
Director Jane Falion has masterminded this well oiled machine of a musical, with considerable help from choreographer Karyn Perry. The group musical numbers and tap dancing were wonderful. Aspects that elevated this show and let its energy flow may have gone unnoticed: deft scene changes and lightning costume changes — and there were a lot of both. (Kudos to Costumer Kristine Maier and her large crew.) I'm sure the "show" backstage would have been impressive to see, as well!
The leads were adorable, the "stars" of Lansing theatre, Joe Quick and Adam Woolsey - with Racheal Raymer and Rachel Dalton bringing their own star quality, though the ladies haven't quite the list of leads as their gentlemen friends. All four "sang and danced their way into the hearts of America" in bright-eyed 50's style.
Kelly Stuible and Kyra McComber brought charm and humor, as well as a funny Ken Beachler playing against type. (It made me chuckle that his "real" mellifluous announcer voice was heard offstage in the elegant ballroom scene, while on stage, he shuffled and "ayupped" in overalls as Ezekiel.) Doak Bloss brought subtlety and heart as the crusty but lovable General for whom the show must go on.
White Christmas is not enTiREly sold out, as rumor has it (the center section probably is, but the show is well blocked for the sides, as well.) You DEFinitely should phone ahead for reservations and arrive EARLY for best parking. There is extra parking in the gravel lot behind R.E. Olds Museum at the end of the circle on Museum Drive. If you park in the lot behind Knight Cap, you can walk along the River Trail to the Riverwalk door.
7pm Wed/Thur; 8pm Fri/Sat; 2pm Sun -- PLUS added 7pm show on Sunday, Dec. 15
www.riverwalktheatre.com
$20/$18 student/senior/$10 for kids 12 and younger.482-5700 -- reservations STRONGly recommended
If you want to read a better review than this one, check out Teresa Dawe's much appreciated online rave:
http://lansingonlinenews.com/news/stone-soup-riverwalk-theatre-thrills-with-white-christmas/
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