By Irving Berlin

Directed by Steve Steiner

Scenic Design by Gail Anderson

Costume Design by Lauren Sison

Lighting Design by David Premack

Mainstage Theater, 2006

Surflight Theatre

Joseph P. Hayes Theatre, Inc

*** Listen to David’s commentary on this design.  Click ABOVE. ***

Video clips coming soon

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas is a masterpiece of musical theatre adapted from the famous film version of the show.  As the company sings the title song “I’m Dreaming of A White Christmas” (the most popular song of all time), it begins snowing over the stage and audience.  This was accomplished with four liquid-based special effects snow machines placed offstage left and right in the fly lofts, and in the house catwalk.  Christmas light strands on the christmas trees help make this finale number lavish and magical.  The effect was a very big surprise to our audiences as audiences members of all ages were gleaming with holiday spirit.

In the dance break of “The Best Things Happen When You’re Dancing,” characters Judy Haynes and Phil Davis are lost in their own world as they have drifted to an altered state of mind, dancing aimlessly as they begin to fall in love.  The rest of the stage is dimmed to a soft blue, while the two are tracked with follow spots.  Upstage, a quintet that sang earlier in the number, is frozen and lit with blue top light and the slightest warm accent from the side.  A star drop and mirror ball were used throughout the number to add a dab of romance.

In the large tap-number “I Love A Piano,” a mixture of saturated top and side light sculpt

the dancers with varying shades of pinks and lavenders.  The star drop upstage is brought

into the number in a building sequence, as to not give away the effect at the start of the song.

As the newfound features solo act at the New York City’s Regency Room, Betty Haynes begins her number with a saturated pink and red stage.  Haze begins to billow on to the set and as the song builds, so does the haze.

In one of the most touching moments of the show, Bob Wallace reassures his old army General’s

granddaughter that all will turn out well, as he prepares to sing her the soothing song “Count Your

Blessings.”  In the garden, green fill light along with foliage gobos on the floor help establish the locale. 

A cool combination of front and top light create a soft and endearing mood for this special moment.

In the lobby of General Waverly’s Colombia Inn, warm accents are used to highlight the warmth in the wood tones and painted drop.  A linear break-up gobo is cast from each side of the stage focussed to resemble

wood floor boards.  As the stage floor was black, this was an ideal way to get some texture in the scene. 

Photos by Barbara (Pook) Pfaffe